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IN THE NEWSBy: DUANE A. DAIKERProposed AssaultWeapon Ban for 2007:What Was Old Is NewAgain (and Then Some)hen the Clinton era AssaultWeapon Ban of 1994 expired in 2004,many of us suspected this day wascoming. When the democrats tookcontrol of Congress following the 2006elections, many of us knew this wascoming. The gun grabbers have theirsights set on your Second Amendmentrights again. U.S. Representative, CarolynMcCarthy (D-New York), has introducedH.R. 1022, which reinstates the provisionsof the 1994 ban, but with some newtwists that make the ban far more onerousthan its last incarnation.HOW WOULD THE PROPOSED BANAFFECT CONCEALED CARRY GUNS?Our primary focus at CCM is onconcealed carry handguns. The 2007version of the Assault Weapon Ban(“AWB”) doesn’t appear to have anysignificant new restrictions on youraverage handgun. However, the proposedlegislation will reinstate theban on “large capacity ammunitionfeeding devices,” which is legal-speakfor magazines with a capacity of morethan 10 rounds. Obviously, this affects alarge number of carry guns. Even manycompact 9mm pistols are designed toaccept magazines with more than 10rounds. Of course, the ban won’t makethe guns themselves illegal, just the “largecapacity” magazines.Many of you will recall that eventoward the end of the 1994 AWB,“large capacity” magazines were stillreadily available if you were willing topay a premium for them. This apparentlyannoyed the anti-gun lobby, whichhas added restrictions to the new banto prevent the import of “pre-ban”magazines, and to further complicate thesale of “pre-ban” magazines once theban is in effect.HOW WOULD THE PROPOSEDBAN AFFECT OTHER GUNS?The focus of the ban is on reinstatingand expanding the ban on “semiautomaticassault weapons.” The billhas a much expanded list of specificallynamed semi-automatic rifles that arebanned, which now includes the RugerMini-14, the Hi-Point Carbine, and the Kel-Tec Sub Rifle. The ban includes copies ofany named rifles, together with any semiautomaticrifle that has a detachablemagazine (of any size), and any one ofthe following “evil” features: a folding ortelescoping stock, a threaded barrel, apistol grip, a forward grip, or a barrelshroud. The prior ban permitted any two“evil” features, but apparently that didnot ban enough evil looking rifles to suitthe gun control crowd. Furthermore, anysemi-automatic pistol with a detachablemagazine and a second pistol grip,a threaded barrel, a barrel shroud,or the ability to accept a magazine atany location outside of the pistol grip,is banned.Also very troubling (perhaps becauseof the inherent ambiguity) is the banon any semi-automatic rifle or shotgun“originally designed for military or lawenforcement use” that is not particularlysuitable for sporting purposes, asdetermined by the Attorney General. Thebill even makes it clear that the mere factthat a particular rifle is used for somesports is not conclusive that the rifle issuitable for sporting purposes.The bill also bans a “conversion kit,”or any collection of parts designed toconvert a firearm into a semi-automaticassault weapon. This provision isvery troubling because it could makecertain gun parts or combinations ofparts (such as collapsible stocks, pistolgrips, or vertical foregrips) illegal topossess, separate and apart from thefirearm itself.Perhaps the most sweeping changesin the new version of the AWB arethe severe restrictions on the transferof “grandfathered” assault weapons.You will be able to continue to possess“banned” weapons that you ownedprior to the ban. However, the sale ofany such assault weapons will have tobe conducted through a licensed FFL;i.e., no more private sales. While manypeople may question how such a lawwould be enforced, an illegal private salemay earn you a ten year sentence in afederal prison.THE BOTTOM LINEThis 2007 version of the AWB maynot become law this time around. Withany luck, H.R. 1022 will die a silent deathin committee before this issue hits yourmailbox. However, at the very least, thisbill should be a wake-up call for thoseof us who value our Second Amendmentrights. The AWB concept is far from deadand gone in the hearts and minds of ourDemocratic Congress. There is no doubtthat many democrats would see H.R.1022 as a “refinement” and continuationof the 1994 ban. I see it as a major newstep toward disarming private citizens.If we are not vigilant in protecting ourrights, some version of an AWB will beback, and it will be far more restrictivethan the previous ban. And make nomistake; the ultimate goal of the antiguncrowd is not just to ban evil looking“assault weapons.” The goal is to getall of your firearms. Only when you arecompletely disarmed will RepresentativeMcCarthy and her cronies feel safe. Howsafe will you feel?Duane A. Daiker is a Contributing Editor forCCM, but is otherwise a regular guy, notmuch different from you. Duane has beena lifelong shooter and goes about his lifeas an armed, responsible, and somewhatopinionated citizen. Duane can be reachedat: Daiker@RealWorldCarryGear.com. Hiscolumns and feature articles can be viewedat: www.RealWorldCarryGear.com.36 Concealed Carry Magazine www.usconcealedcarry.comVolume 4 - May/June 2007