Senator Feinstein Introduces New “Assault Weapons” Ban
OutdoorHub Reporters 01.24.13
Earlier today, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) held a press conference detailing the introduction of a new bill to ban the importation, sale, and transfer of “assault weapons.” Feinstein was joined by fellow senators Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer among others, as well as representatives of the armed forces and police onstage.
The bill seeks to, among other provisions:
- Ban the importation, sale, and transfer of over 150 specifically named firearms (see list below) and semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols that feature detachable magazines and sport one or more “military characteristics”
- Accessories or features considered “military characteristics:” pistol grip, forward grip, folding/telescoping/detachable stock, grenade or rocket launcher, barrel shroud, and threaded barrel
- Ban the importation, sale, and transfer of “high-capacity” magazines (magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds)
- Specifically ban accessories like Slidefire stocks and firearms featuring “bullet buttons”
- Exempt firearms that are lawfully possessed at the time of the bill’s implementation, firearms manually operated by a bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, “assault weapons” used by military, law enforcement, and retired law enforcement, and antique firearms; along with 2,258 specifically mentioned “hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns”
The senator began her speech by expressing frustration at the recent shootings in Newtown and elsewhere, for which she claims the bill is a response to.
“The common thread in these shootings is that each gunman used a semi-automatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition magazine,” Feinstein stated. “These massacres don’t seem to stop,” she continued, as Feinstein and others talked on the dangers of “high-capacity,” “military” grade weapons in the hands of Americans.
“No weapon is [being] taken from anyone,” Feinstein said.
What the bill will do is to ban the sale, production and distribution of roughly 150 firearms, including rifles, shotguns and pistols with “military-style” components as well as “high-capacity” magazines. In a list obtained by the Daily Caller, weapons named under the bill include all AK and AR types and their pistol configurations, in addition to other models.
Unlike the previous assault weapons ban, which Feinstein had a large role in shaping, there is little talk of an expiration date on the current proposed bill.
“The purpose of this bill is to dry up the supply of these weapons over time, therefore there is no sunset on this bill,” elaborated Feinstein.
Gun rights activists oppose these new restrictions, saying that new laws would not stop criminals from obtaining weapons or decrease shootings. Others cite the low number of murders connected to rifles and “assault weapons” specifically. According to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, only a small amount of homicides are committed with rifles compared to other weapons such as knives, handguns, and blunt objects.
Below is the list of firearms banned by name:
Rifles: All AK types, including the following: AK, AK47, AK47S, AK–74, AKM, AKS, ARM, MAK90, MISR, NHM90, NHM91, Rock River Arms LAR–47, SA85, SA93, Vector Arms AK–47, VEPR, WASR–10, and WUM, IZHMASH Saiga AK, MAADI AK47 and ARM, Norinco 56S, 56S2, 84S, and 86S, Poly Technologies AK47 and AKS; All AR types, including the following: AR–10, AR–15, Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, Armalite M15–T, Barrett REC7, Beretta AR–70, Bushmaster ACR, Bushmaster Carbon 15, Bushmaster MOE series, Bushmaster XM15, Colt Match Target Rifles, DoubleStar AR rifles, DPMS Tactical Rifles, Heckler & Koch MR556, Olympic Arms, Remington R–15 rifles, Rock River Arms LAR–15, Sig Sauer SIG516 rifles, Smith & Wesson M&P15 Rifles, Stag Arms AR rifles, Sturm, Ruger & Co. SR556 rifles; Barrett M107A1; Barrett M82A1; Beretta CX4 Storm; Calico Liberty Series; CETME Sporter; Daewoo K–1, K–2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C; Fabrique Nationale/FN Herstal FAL, LAR, 22 FNC, 308 Match, L1A1 Sporter, PS90, SCAR, and FS2000; Feather Industries AT–9; Galil Model AR and Model ARM; Hi-Point Carbine; HK–91, HK–93, HK–94, HK–PSG–1 and HK USC; Kel-Tec Sub–2000, SU–16, and RFB; SIG AMT, SIG PE–57, Sig Sauer SG 550, and Sig Sauer SG 551; Springfield Armory SAR–48; Steyr AUG; Sturm, Ruger Mini-14 Tactical Rife M–14/20CF; All Thompson rifles, including the following: Thompson M1SB, Thompson T1100D, Thompson T150D, Thompson T1B, Thompson T1B100D, Thompson T1B50D, Thompson T1BSB, Thompson T1–C, Thompson T1D, Thompson T1SB, Thompson T5, Thompson T5100D, Thompson TM1, Thompson TM1C; UMAREX UZI Rifle; UZI Mini Carbine, UZI Model A Carbine, and UZI Model B Carbine; Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78; Vector Arms UZI Type; Weaver Arms Nighthawk; Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine.
Pistols: All AK–47 types, including the following: Centurion 39 AK pistol, Draco AK–47 pistol, HCR AK–47 pistol, IO Inc. Hellpup AK–47 pistol, Krinkov pistol, Mini Draco AK–47 pistol, Yugo Krebs Krink pistol; All AR–15 types, including the following: American Spirit AR–15 pistol, Bushmaster Carbon 15 pistol, DoubleStar Corporation AR pistol, DPMS AR–15 pistol, Olympic Arms AR–15 pistol, Rock River Arms LAR 15 pistol; Calico Liberty pistols; DSA SA58 PKP FAL pistol; Encom MP–9 and MP–45; Heckler & Koch model SP-89 pistol; Intratec AB–10, TEC–22 Scorpion, TEC–9, and TEC–DC9; Kel-Tec PLR 16 pistol; The following MAC types: MAC–10, MAC–11; Masterpiece Arms MPA A930 Mini Pistol, MPA460 Pistol, MPA Tactical Pistol, and MPA Mini Tactical Pistol; Military Armament Corp. Ingram M–11, Velocity Arms VMAC; Sig Sauer P556 pistol; Sites Spectre; All Thompson types, including the following: Thompson TA510D, Thompson TA5; All UZI types, including: Micro-UZI.
Shotguns: Franchi LAW–12 and SPAS 12; All IZHMASH Saiga 12 types, including the following: IZHMASH Saiga 12, IZHMASH Saiga 12S, IZHMASH Saiga 12S EXP–01, IZHMASH Saiga 12K, IZHMASH Saiga 12K–030, IZHMASH Saiga 12K–040 Taktika; Streetsweeper; Striker 12.
Belt-fed semiautomatic firearms: All belt-fed semiautomatic firearms including TNW M2HB.
