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Originally Posted by predator20
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I have to say that is pretty moronic. First off I disagree with the whole idea of banning something by name, as either it meets a set of criteria for a ban or it doesn't, to decide to ban it arbitrarily on a whim seems ridiculous to me.
Secondly, some of the guns that are specifically named in this bill are just plain ridiculous. Some are to be expected and would be banned anyway based on the criteria like the AR-15s and AKs, but some have absolutely no business being there at all. For example, Barrett M82A1s and M107s. Are these assault weapons? Has anyone ever shot up a crowded public area with an anti-material rifle? No, this is just an excuse to slip stuff like this into a ban under the radar. I don't even understand the need to ban high caliber rifles, they cost an absolute bomb and how many have ever actually been used for criminal purposes in the USA? There are also some other rare and expensive guns that have probably never been used in a crime, like the H&K PSG-1. I'd also be curious to know how many shooting have ever been carried out with an FN LAR, or a SIG AMT
They are also including .22 replicas of "assault weapons" like the Umarex Uzi Rifle and Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, implying that they care more about how something looks than how it functions.
I had previously said that Kel-Tec would probably do pretty well out of the ban with their SU-16 series, but that will not be the case as they are specifically banned along with the RFB and Sub-2000, so they have gotten well and truly shafted. I had previously read that Kel-Tec heard the KSG was going to be on the list but it isn't, maybe this is a draft and they forgot it.
I am also puzzled as the why they ban the LAW-12. I can understand the SPAS-12 as it looks "scary" and that is apparently not allowed, but I wouldn't say the LAW-12 is aesthetically or functionally different to many other semi auto shotguns which are not named, like the Benellis.
Not related to the list, but the "37% of police departments reported seeing a noticeable increase in criminals’ use of assault weapons since the 1994 federal ban expired" fact made me laugh, as if you actually think about it, it sort of implies that assault weapon usage has actually gone down rather than up.