H.R. 1022 would reauthorize the assault weapons ban.
Detailed Summary
Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 - Reinstates for ten years repealed criminal provisions regarding assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (the assault weapons ban).
Revises the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include conversion kits (for converting a firearm to such a weapon) and any semiautomatic rifle or pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and that has specified characteristics, including a telescoping stock.
Prohibits the transfer of such a weapon except through a licensed dealer or a state or local law enforcement agency, subject to specified requirements. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish and maintain a record of the make, model, and date of manufacture of any such weapon which the Attorney General is made aware has been used in relation to a crime, and of the nature and circumstances of the crime involved; and (2) annually submit the record to Congress and make it available to the public.
Prohibits: (1) the transfer of any assault weapon with a large capacity ammunition feeding device; and (2) a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer who transfers such a device that was manufactured on or before this Act's enactment from failing to certify to the Attorney General, within 60 days of the transfer date, that the device was manufactured on or before that date. Sets forth penalties for violations.
Prohibits: (1) the transfer of such a weapon or device to a juvenile; and (2) the importation of such a device.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 3/19/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
GW
June 24, 2008, 12:16am (report abuse)The liberal opinion of the constitution seems to always emphasize our superior development or evolution or intellect. My friends it seems to me that the only thing we have gained since our forefathers crafted our republic is distance from it!
DetroitArms.Com
July 16, 2008, 3:05pm (report abuse)Thank you congress for giving me the motivation to start our company. When I got wind of this bill, I decided enough was enough and I had to get involved. To do whatever I can to change peoples views, to educate. Our recent (albeit too close for comfort) win in the Supreme Court should plainly tell the sponsor and supporters of this bill that this is a waste of time. Get some real work done. This is clearly unconstitutional and a waste of tax payers money in pursuing it. I'm a Desert Storm Vet and not about to let my country implode on itself without standing up for what's right.
RD
August 1, 2008, 6:08pm (report abuse)If an ordinance in unconstitutional, is it, in fact, a law? Might not the solution be for law-abiding (Constitution abiding) citizens to exercise their Constitutional rights regardless of what some supposed "law" says? If they are then charged with violating the law, they can correctly plead "not guilty" on the basis that the "law" isn't a law. It's not permitted by the supreme law of the land. George Washington's and other Founding Fathers' comments on the issue ought to be sufficient witnesses.
Joe Cool
August 2, 2008, 9:11pm (report abuse)This is another attempt by determined leftist extremists to bring our country into socialism. We do not want individual rights and responsibilities forsaken in the name of 'safety'. This will not reduce crime, it will only increase it. Sorry but we bitter, religious gun-clinging citizens reject this affront of our civil rights. I used to think that it could not happen here until all the gun-grabbing illegal actions by the LA and NO police after Katrina. What a wake-up call that was to me. Our government has gotten too big at the expense of personal liberties and it's time to swing the pendulum in the other direction. Ron Paul was right about this, and the mainstream media silenced him rather effectively. The news media in this country is biased and complicit in misleading the population in terms of crime, personal responsibility and the ineffectiveness of gun controls. It stops here, it stops now!
Give me Liberty
August 16, 2008, 8:00pm (report abuse)If the second amendment is not an individual right then I would really like to have someone explain to me why it is 2nd in the bill of rights and just who's rights it is protecting. If it is not needed to protect anyone's rights then why is it there. Or would those of you who do not believe in it like to change the name of the Bill of Rights to the Bill of comments? And I would also like to know why the liberal judges in our supreme court will not honor their oath to defend the constitution? If you do not agree with it then amend it! Otherwise you have no option but to defend it! Also, the Mayor of Chicago said recently that we would all take our disagreements to the streets with guns. That has not happened in our city Mayor! And we have been legally armed for over 100 years!
Give me Liberty
August 17, 2008, 11:08am (report abuse)I heard Mr. Obama on the news stating that one of the Supreme Court judges appointed by the current administration was not insuring the separation of powers envisioned by our founding fathers. WHAT A CROCK!!! We all know that concept was lost when we became a polarized 2 party system. LIARS ALL!!! This 2 party system is the biggest threat to liberty. This ‘government within a government’ enacted by tyrannical control freaks. This is what should be the most illegal monopoly!!! (Good luck with that!!!)
jim
August 17, 2008, 5:18pm (report abuse)just think about this,the probably the only reason we have not been evaded by another country or terroist,is that the people do have the right to keep and bear arms,semiautomatic rifles or andguns.
Give me Liberty
August 23, 2008, 11:56am (report abuse)We are experiencing the rise of radical liberalism. This is worse than Islamic extremism because it disguises itself as democracy. If this is allowed to continue we will see the demise of America as a free republic. If people want to be free they have to have the courage to do things for themselves. Anyone who’s first reaction is to ‘get the full resources of the government behind us’ is not just abdicating their right to Liberty, they are giving it away! You will not get it back!!
Give Me Liberty
August 29, 2008, 4:10pm (report abuse)Einstein once said that the definition of insanity was continually doing the same thing and expecting different results. GUN BANS DO NOT WORK. They stem from an insane premise that firearms are inherently evil. EVIL PEOPLE ARE EVIL! A legally owned firearm can make a 110lb woman the equal of any man and able to fend of an attacker who would other wise have his way with her! When Gun Bans do not work, the anti gun proponents ask for more laws and more time! If you could not do your job and kept asking for more money and more time you would soon be on the street! They fail to see their own insanity! They will make victims of us all, vulnerable to all forms of tyranny!
Give Me Liberty
August 29, 2008, 4:30pm (report abuse)All laws have unintended consequences. 90% of the people responding to this website are against banning firearms! It is not the will of the people! The opinion of an influential few does not make their position right! The People demand liberty! Also there will be a great economic impact if firearms were made illegal!! Hundreds of Thousands of people will lose their livelihood! Many industries will shut down! This will have a ripple effect to many other industries as well! IT IS NOT OUR WILL!! IT IS NOT IN OUR BEST INTERESTS!! YOU ARE NOT GOD!!! LEAVE OUR LIBERTYS ALONE!!!
law abiding citizen gun owner
November 6, 2008, 4:45pm (report abuse)After seeing numerous bills introduced by McCarthy, I have come to realize she is crazy. Seems no told her that it is the criminals who need to be dealt with, not a tool they may choose to do thier evil with. I urge sane congress people to vote against hr1022.
2A Supporter
November 9, 2008, 7:46pm (report abuse)After reading the posts on this page all I can say is DEMS in the house, the senate, and wait......OBAMA!!! What do we do to stop this madness. We are all dead if the gvmnt. disarms us. I have these types of rifles and I dont go out shooting people with them. Seriously what do we do to stop these laws?
travismany
December 7, 2008, 1:36am (report abuse)Well well well... How ya like Obama bin Laden and the Dems now... ??? anyone... This calls for a revolt
Sandy
December 9, 2008, 1:03pm (report abuse)The second amendment does not specify which types of arms you have the right to bear. This bill does not ban ALL firearms, therefore it is NOT unconstitutional. There are still plenty of legal firearms to go around for all you gun-nuts who think they make you "safe" or think that you need semi-automatic assault weapons with large capacity ammunition feeding devices for "hunting."
Britt Dixon
December 9, 2008, 9:23pm (report abuse)I find it interesting that the BATF a branch of the IRS (Tax Collectors) are believed to be "law enforcement" and they murdered the people in Waco and Ruby Ridge because they didn't purchase a tax stamp which would allow them to "legally own" short barreled shotguns or fully automatic machine guns. A tax stamp which by the way only costs $200. Okay, so they didn't pay the damn tax. But to lose your life because you owe the government $200 in taxes! Isn't that why our forefathers started the Revolutionary War?! Wake up America the "Tax man" is killing your fellow countrymen because they didn't pay their taxes!
Shawn
December 11, 2008, 10:32pm (report abuse)Second amendment has nothing to do with hunting sandy. I am so sick of hearing people trying to connect the two. The second amendment is to protect the citizens from government control. When the bill of rights was written there was no such thing as "Hunting", they killed food because they could not go to the corner store to buy meat. So im sure they were not protecting hunting rights.
Shawn
December 11, 2008, 10:37pm (report abuse)Oh yeah sandy, Im sure it is posted on here a thousand times, but the definition of an "Assault Weapon" is a selective firing gun. Meaning You can switch from semi auto to fully auto with the flip of a switch, or just a fully auto weapon. Those are illegal to just about everyone right now. A semi auto gun is not and Assault weapon. If thats the case then I have a semi auto marlin 22 rifle that i bought at walmart when i turned 18, it should be banned too i guess. Same thing just smaller round, I think the tube magazine on it holds like 15. Thats scary isnt it.
Ken
December 14, 2008, 1:14pm (report abuse)The ban mad it difficult for police officers with to buy things they needed for work. My department would allow an officer to carry and deploy a patrol rifle, but could not afford to buy one for each officer. Many departments suffer the same lack of funding for essential equipment. An officer had to pay a premium for a "pre-ban" rifle, just like everyone else. It hindered the police and their ability to protect the people.
REX
December 16, 2008, 9:09pm (report abuse)THIS BILL NEEDS TO BE SHOT DOWN. AND YES THE PUN WAS INTENDED. PLEASE SOMEBODY IN WASHINGTON WHO APPROVES OF THIS BILL SHOW ME HOW MANY CRIMES ARE COMMITTED W/ THESE SO CALLED ASSAULT RIFLES VS. HANDGUNS. PEOPLE CAN BE KILLED JUST AS EASY W/ A MACHETE OR A KNIFE, DRUNK DRIVERS, DISEASE, ETC. BUT THEY DONT SEEM TO WANT TO DO MUCH ABOUT THOSE ISSUES. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO AFFECT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ABIDE THE LAW. LETS JUST GIVE THE CRIMINALS OUT THERE ONE MORE ADVANTAGE OVER THE REST OF US! THIS BILL SHOULD BE VOTED AGAINST AT ALL COSTS.
AK-47owner
December 27, 2008, 5:21pm (report abuse)There are 85 million american gun owners in America out of 310 million in the population. That is 27% of people that own guns. Why do you think foreign countries think twice about invading the USA. They know that every gun owner in America will fight back. A major part of the GUN, along with other problems, have to do with Illegal ALIENS. Many of the gangs which are in KALIFORNIA(Nazifornia) Here is a link : http://www.morebans.org/aliens.htmlIt will make no difference to the criminals if the the government puts restrictions on firearms. They will still be able to get them by stealling and robbing people. Do you think criminals register guns? By putting restrictions on firearms and restricting our rights as legal US citizens is wrong & ILLEGAL. As the US Constitution & 2nd ammendment was recognized and respected by our founding fathers. In Todays age the TREE-HUGGING Vegetarians are more inclined to be politically correct.
Joe the AR-15 Lover
December 27, 2008, 5:29pm (report abuse)Gun Owners are going to be raped:
http://www.morebans.org/bantarget2.html
Bob C.
December 28, 2008, 11:50pm (report abuse)According to the latest FBI Crime Report, 3891 people were killed with knives or blunt objects in 2007. 450 people were killed by rifles, not assault weapons, but rifles. Assault weapons are a small sub-group of rifles. Eleven states (22%) had no deaths caused by rifles. So explain to me again why assault weapons need to be banned?
RD
January 6, 2009, 11:20pm (report abuse)I don't wonder where my tax dollars are going. I know. They are being used to employ people who don't understand that the laws they cook up only hurt/inconvenience non criminal people. They choose to ignore the historical fact that the weapons used to defeat the British were the leading edge firearms(read assault rifles)of the day, and without those and the resolve of the people to do something about being subjects rather than citizens, we would be driving on the wrong side of the road today. Living in the firearm repressive state of Kalifornia, I know first hand what all unsound gun laws feel like. Vote the gungrabbers out of office on every level. God Bless America.