Gun Grabbers Go Big

The United States started with a gunshot. "The shot heard around the world" was the beginning of the Revolution - as the British soldiers were marching to confiscate a weapon's cashe outside Boston.

The right to have a weapon is a right of the people guaranteed by the Constitution (unlike Europe). And the Supreme Court has upheld this right.

There are extremely restrictive laws on the books, but aren't being enforced...

But that's not good enough. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein's plan to require folks to register their assault rifles and ban the from selling or buying any more.

An eight-year Marine veteran named Joshua Boston feels very strongly about it. Here's his letter to the Senator from CNN's iReport:

Senator Dianne Feinstein,

I will not register my weapons should this bill be passed, as I do not believe it is the government's right to know what I own. Nor do I think it prudent to tell you what I own so that it may be taken from me by a group of people who enjoy armed protection yet decry me having the same a crime. You ma'am have overstepped a line that is not your domain. I am a Marine Corps Veteran of 8 years, and I will not have some woman who proclaims the evil of an inanimate object, yet carries one, tell me I may not have one.

I am not your subject. I am the man who keeps you free. I am not your servant. I am the person whom you serve. I am not your peasant. I am the flesh and blood of America.
I am the man who fought for my country. I am the man who learned. I am an American. You will not tell me that I must register my semi-automatic AR-15 because of the actions of some evil man.

I will not be disarmed to suit the fear that has been established by the media and your misinformation campaign against the American public.

We, the people, deserve better than you.

Respectfully Submitted,
Joshua Boston
Cpl, United States Marine Corps
2004-2012

Feinstein's bill is pretty comprehensive and can be found here on her website with a .pdf copy available. The reference to the Senator carrying a weapon she's trying to keep Josh from owning is a reference to Feinstein's desire to outlaw handgun ownership while admitting she conceal carries herself. You know, for protection.
Of the 1,000 weapons listed as exemptions under the bill. Following is the legislation's summary:
2013 legislation:

• Bans the sale, transfer, importation, or manufacturing of:
• 120 specifically-named firearms;
• Certain other semiautomatic rifles, handguns, shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine and have one or more military characteristics; and
• Semiautomatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds.
• Strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by:
• Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test;
• Eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test; and
• Banning firearms with “thumbhole stocks” and “bullet buttons” to address attempts to “work around” prior bans.
• Bans large-capacity ammunition feeding devices accepting more than 10 rounds.
• Protects legitimate hunters and the rights of existing gun owners by:
• Grandfathering weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment;
• Exempting over 900 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes; and
• Exempting antique, manually-operated, and permanently disabled weapons.
• Requires grandfathered weapons be registered with National Firearms Act, to include:
• Background check of owner and any transferee;
• Type and serial number of the firearm;
• Positive identification, including photograph and fingerprint;
• Certification from local law enforcement of identity and that possession would not violate State or local law; and
• Dedicated funding for ATF to implement registration.

Joshua's letter went up a few days ago and is hitting peak visibility this morning. No word yet from the Senator's office.

The short list of the 120 final named weapons, for those interested, is below and catch-all categories to them may be found here:

Rifles (or copies or duplicates): M1 Carbine, Sturm Ruger Mini-14, AR-15, Bushmaster XM15, Armalite M15, AR-10, Thompson 1927, Thompson M1; AK, AKM, AKS, AK-47, AK-74, ARM, MAK90, NHM 90,

NHM 91, SA 85, SA 93, VEPR; Olympic Arms PCR; AR70, Calico Liberty , Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle or Dragunov SVU, Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FNC, Hi-Point20Carbine, HK-91,

HK-93, HK-94, HK-PSG-1, Thompson 1927 Commando, Kel-Tec Sub Rifle; Saiga, SAR-8, SAR-4800, SKS with detachable magazine, SLG 95, SLR 95 or 96, Steyr AU, Tavor, Uzi, Galil and Uzi Sporter,

Galil Sporter, or Galil Sniper Rifle ( Galatz ). Pistols (or copies or duplicates): Calico M-110, MAC-10, MAC-11, or MPA3, Olympic Arms OA, TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-22 Scorpion, or AB-10, Uzi. Shotguns (or copies or duplicates): Armscor 30 BG, SPAS 12 or LAW 12, Striker 12, Streetsweeper.

Meanwhile, the gun grabbers have been hard at work in Illinois - despite the Federal Court ordering them to enact Concealed Carry legislation in 180 days or it becomes defacto law... they're going for it. A massive Anti-gun bill that tosses everything and the kitchen sink into these proposals which will be slipped into an existing shell bill and rammed through, potentially in the dead of night -- just as Illinois passed the 67% income tax increase in the last few hours of the previous session.

Senator John Cullerton, the president of the Illinois Senate, would include all semi-automatic firearms and pump action rifles and shotguns.

This reads like a “turn them in or go to jail” bill. There’s no grandfathering or exemptions. Everything from America’s favorite rifle down to a deer-slug Remington 870 would be banned. The Colt 1911 would be banned, too.

All semi-autos would be banned. As would pump action rifles and shotguns.

* Any range open to the public would have to be run by a federally licensed firearm dealer – and they would be licensed and regulated by the Illinois State Police. Also, the range would be open ONLY to club members, period.
* A separate magazine ban bill is also being floated which would ban all mags over 10 rounds. 

* Repeal of the FOID Act provision which allows non-FOID holders to attend firearm training in Illinois.

Oh, and it has passed. Gun owners nationwide are encouraged to call Cullerton’s offices, particularly the one in Springfield: (217) 782-2728. His Chicago office number: 773-883-0770 

When you call, perhaps consider reading the Second Amendment to them? Maybe remind them that Illinois - with the strictest gun control in the nation also has a higher gun death ratio than the US Army in Afghanistan?  So, more gun control is going to work, er, better?  Maybe they should make some more Gun Free Zone signs to remind the bad guys they should stab their gangland rivals rather than shooting them? Everyone will feel better about that, won't they!