H.R. 6257 would reinstate the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act.
Detailed Summary
Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to reinstate, for 10 years, the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act's assault weapons ban to prohibit the manufacture, transfer, or possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon or a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Specifies models and features of banned weapons.
Sets forth exceptions to such ban, including: (1) firearms or devices lawfully possessed under federal law on the date of enactment of this Act; (2) certain firearms, replicas, or duplicates listed in an appendix as they were manufactured on October 1, 1993; (3) any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action and that has been rendered permanently inoperable or that is an antique firearm; (4) any semiautomatic rifle that cannot accept a detachable magazine that holds more than five rounds of ammunition; (5) any semiautomatic shotgun that cannot hold more than five rounds in a fixed or detachable magazine; and (6) firearms manufactured for, transferred to, or possessed by a federal, state, or local government agency or for law enforcement.
Requires the serial number of any weapon or device manufactured after enactment of this Act to clearly show the date of manufacture.
Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the effects of this Act on violent and drug trafficking crime.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2008: 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
Sniper by Nite
December 23, 2008, 6:48am (report abuse)To: Leiber T Gonn
Apologie accepted. Thanks for quoating the book of Daniel. I do see the writing on the wall, but even a rookie like Nobama is not stupid enough to take weapons, that is , if he wants a second term. I hope in the near future, you will go to your local shooting range w/ a nice rifle and put a few shot downrange, and enjoy the accuracy of connecting the shots on paper, and even putting some in the same hole.This is the freedom of being AMERICAN! A hell of alot of Good Men and Women died for us to this right and many more.
Merry CHRISTmas!!!
Jack
December 23, 2008, 2:54pm (report abuse)Time to get rid of ALL the useless members of congress. Vote out the non-conservative, anti-American members.
Mark
December 24, 2008, 10:06am (report abuse)Necessary to stem the rising tide of assault weapons violence, especially in relation to drug trafficking. Only stupid, demented old men like the late Charlton Heston care about guns anymore.
smeg
December 24, 2008, 2:40pm (report abuse)Mark, the following links seem to contradict your statement about a wave of assault weapon violence. Also, the fact that many people are participating in this discussion contradicts your statement that only stupid, demented, old men care about guns.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/lott/lott42.html
http://www.rkba.org/research/smith/AWBrief.pdf
http://sensiblyprogressive.blogspot.com/2008/09/assault-weapons-suddenl... />
If you would care to post links to any credible sources supporting your statements, I would be happy to look at them.
AngryMilitaryMan
December 25, 2008, 10:29am (report abuse)If they come to take our guns, there will cause the largest insurgency in the history of the world. They can't come to everyone's house in the middle of the night. Sleep with your favorite weapon loaded next to your bed(or locked up with in reach if you have small children). So when you get that knock on your door in the middle of the night after Obama takes office you can just start shooting. This bill is UNCONSTITUTIONAL! I have taken an oath to Protect the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and DOMESTIC! Do you politicians who are so out of touch with reality really want to temp fate? Remember the intent of our forefathers, the government cannot be every where at once to protect you! Remember New Orleans!
Sniper By Nite
December 26, 2008, 2:01am (report abuse)To: Mark
Really, can't you do better than that? If your a gun hater and it sounds like you are, cant you do better than talking about a gun loving dead guy? Or are you so liberal that it makes you feel better to do so? Why dont you bash Tom Selleck? Or why dont you praise Rosie "Fat Ass Lesbian" O'donnel, shes a gun hater too! Go along with that crowd, you would fit in better.
mark smacker
December 26, 2008, 9:53am (report abuse)Mark feels threatened by armed americans. Maybe he should. Because if this goes the way he wants, HE will be the new game!
30 Year Army Man
December 27, 2008, 10:47am (report abuse)The government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any particular citizen.” In Bowers v. DeVito (1982), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, “[T]here is no constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen.” So much for police protection. The FBI Crime Report for 2007 indicates that less than one percent of crime related gun deaths were caused by assault weapons. More people were killed with knives, blunt objects, hands, etc. Want to compare the number of assault weapon deaths to drunk driving deaths? Maybe we should be banning alcohol.
Afghan Veteran
December 27, 2008, 10:59am (report abuse)Gun sales are up 48%, 50% in Illinois. Does this sound like the American people want gun control? When voluntary gun turn-in amnesty programs see a 50% increase, I will believe Americans want gun control.
Bob
December 27, 2008, 4:27pm (report abuse)What else would you expect from liberal politicians? Obama said he would sign the bill when it comes across his desk.
Retired Vet
December 28, 2008, 2:42pm (report abuse)Assault weapons are not evil. They are tools. Tools can be used for good or for evil. Knives killed 1,796 people in 2007. Does that make knives evil and worthy of banning? Or are the abusers of these tools the evil ones? Laws cannot prevent evil doers from practicing their trade. I dare say no rapist ever changed his mind about his crime because he suddenly realized it was against the law.
reloader54
December 28, 2008, 3:14pm (report abuse)hold on to every weapon you own until we're all standing tall.reload until you can't afford it anymore and get ready to kick some ass. WE ARE AMERICANS; NOBODY WILL BE SAFE UNLESS WE TELL THEM 'NO' WE AIN'T GIVIN UP OUR GUNS OR OUR AMMO!
reloader54
December 28, 2008, 8:17pm (report abuse)hey 'O' bumf**k; if your black ass wants my guns then i invite you to kiss my white *ss cause you ain't getting them.
Halo
December 29, 2008, 12:20am (report abuse)If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson! Protection of ones life is each person's responsibility!
LouisCipher
December 29, 2008, 8:13pm (report abuse)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the possession or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon otherwise lawfully possessed under Federal law on the date of the enactment of this subsection.
Means that if you already own it, you get to keep it, and if it makes you feel any better, the AK you spent $400 on six months ago would be worth thousands.
Would I give up my "Assault Weapons"? No. Should these so-called "Assault Weapons" be banned? Hell No.
Hopefully these legislators will realise that if possession of guns is criminal, then only criminals will possess guns.
wohalliburton
December 31, 2008, 3:56pm (report abuse)The second amendment states "The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". If you want to follow the Constitution the decision on this bill is easy. But, our legislators don't want to follow the Constitution...they say its a 'flexible document'. That is, the Constitution says what they want it to say. Translate "don't you worry your little head, we know what's best for you". That's another big step towards tyranny. Vote out every legislator that votes for this treasonous bill.
jackie boy
January 1, 2009, 6:51pm (report abuse)Just remember....when they come for your guns, your supposed to give them the ammunition first !
ok gun
January 1, 2009, 7:49pm (report abuse)It's getting clearer to see how lefty's think when you see them protesting Israel's act of protecting themselves from attacks and they say nothing against the aggressors ( shame on those of us that would shoot a person breaking into your home to do you harm ) I give up on stupid people that think that way. May they regret their way of thinking in the future.
Ohio Gun Owner
January 2, 2009, 12:20am (report abuse)You really don't want to be re-elected do you? Shotguns are to protect our homes, handguns are to protect ourselves, and "assault" weapons are to defend from our hand guns and shotguns from being taken by the communists in Washington. (the ones who sponsored this bill) Why don't you write a bill to ban the CIA -- their the ones smuggling the drugs into the country. Google "CIA Drugs".
Chris
January 2, 2009, 12:43pm (report abuse)The bill, and any bill like it, would be a disgrace. We Americans like our guns and liberties, GET OVER IT! If politicians are so afraid of us common folk owning weapons...maybe they should actually do their JOB and quit making everyone mad at them!
Jason
January 2, 2009, 10:10pm (report abuse)Politicians do not care about the typical American citizen because they are not one. Politicians don’t have to worry about the average criminal vandalizing or breaking into their vehicles or homes. They live in areas that are upscale, low crime areas, have security guards and so on. They are not typical Americans in the least bit, but they make laws for us to follow. It’s hypocrisy.
The President-Elect whom I did not vote for thinks that by banning “assault” rifles and various semi-automatic rifles and handguns that crime will be the thing of the past. Maybe in his small world it will be, but not the typical American’s world. Statistically “assault” weapons have the smallest percentage of use in crime. Like some others have said on the forum, they are too hard to conceal – which is true. They certainly cost more than the average pistol which is easily placed into a pocket or under a coat.
Jason
January 2, 2009, 10:10pm (report abuse)Part II...
The end result of the non-sense is that law abiding citizens and gun owners are going to be punished for the ignorance of our government. Criminals are not going to care about this ban or any other ban because they will have the resources to go around it. The government needs to quit tying our hands behind our backs and let us have our Constitutional Right to Bear Arms!
JFK
January 3, 2009, 11:32am (report abuse)Just this morning on the news was a story of how violent crime, especially firearm crime was down in America. And if the elected even consider this bill with all the other issues impacting our country we need to remind them VERY LOUDLY that they are supposed to work for US, not against us. And as our employees they should be working on the truely pressing issues of our econimic collapse, runaway spending, energy, war in Iraq and Afganistan, and the middleast issue that has raised it's head again. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND REMIND THEM WHO THEY WORK FOR!
AK-47 ROUNDS 4U
January 3, 2009, 11:01pm (report abuse)ILL GIVE YOU MY GUNS 3000 ROUNDS FIRST!
LEE
January 4, 2009, 7:25pm (report abuse)Who amoung us will be the first pick a fight? Until we fight, they'll do anything they want.
Vernon
January 4, 2009, 7:32pm (report abuse)The time has come to nurish the tree of liberty.
Phil Justice
January 5, 2009, 1:14pm (report abuse)More useless infringement upon constitutionally protected God given rights. The vast majority of gun owners are die hard american patriots, not criminals. The first ban didn't do anything to reduce crime, the result of this one if implemented will be the same.
Mike
January 5, 2009, 8:03pm (report abuse)They can go f**k themseleves.I will not give up one gun.
enabled veteran
January 7, 2009, 4:23am (report abuse)It's almost as though, they are afraid of their own people, afraid we will finally lose it, and make them pay. I for one am sick and tired of my government telling me weather or not I can defend myself, and want them all out! I wish I could call this communism, but look at their paychecks! I am seriously worried about what their plans are after this apocalyptic act on society is complete, what are they planning to do next? First this, then the chip, then what? I hope they are ready for another kind of civil, or should I say, uncivil war in this country. For every one man left unarmed in this country, there will be ten of our enemies armed, what to do then? Self inflicted contraband chaos rebellion, and they think they will actually get away with it.... LMFAO!!!
enabled veteran
January 7, 2009, 4:35am (report abuse)Hey, me again, just read the appendix, and thought they should change the name of the bill to the "redneck" rifle ban. For Gods sake! They have litterally got hunting rifles listed on there! Bolt action rifles! What next? Muzzleloaders? Airsoft? How about worrying about something a little more important, like poverty, disease, over-spending, border patrol, etc, etc.... Morons!