[Bacchus]

I understand the basics of the AWB and that it's up for renewal next September. If it's not renewed, what exactly does that mean?

Is the "AWB" a general term for the Brady Bill?

I take it we can buy "pre-ban" magazines and "pre-ban" ARs.

What else?

[Bartholomew Roberts]

AWB stands for "Assault Weapon" Ban. If the ban is not renewed next year then all of the silly cosmetic restrictions on semi-automatic rifles go away as if they had never existed.

This means that you can now add a muzzle device without worrying about whether you will become a federal felon if the ATF rules that your muzzle brake is really a flash hider.

You will also be able to buy semi-auto rifles at normal market prices instead of the artificially restricted market prices they have been commanding for the last ten years.

Finally, you'll be able to use the magazines the firearm was designed to use instead of chopped ten round magazines that may or may not function reliably and with luck, prices on these will also become more reasonable.

The AWB does not affect the Brady Law at all and all of its provisions still remain in effect as does the 1989 executive order banning the import of some semi-automatic rifles (AKs, Uzis etc.)

[Mark Tyson]

The AWB is not the Brady bull, which does not sunset. The Brady bill mandates "instant" background checks and has led to de facto registration of all new gun purchases.

If the ban sunsets it will be as if it were never passed. You may buy guns with all the evil features and modify the ones that you have to accept them. You will be able to buy normal capacity magazines. However, you may still not modify certain imported firearms to have certain evil features in accordance with a 1989 law that only affected imported firearms. The same gun domestically manufactured would be legal. I know this makes utterly no sense, but it is an example of the kind of ridiculous drivel that the antis force upon people just to assuage their egos.

[TallPine]

The 1994 AWB will sunset. That is a certainty.

The question is whether a new law, most likely containing far more "reasonable restrictions" than the existing abomination, will be enacted to take its place.

If so, we will likely all become felons. :(

[Mark Tyson]

Renewing the current ban means passing the whole law over again. If there aren't the votes to renew the current ban then there aren't the votes to initiate a new ban, especially that monster bill that outlaws all autoloaders. The thing to keep an eye on is the 2004 congressional elections.

[Sam Adams]

The thing to keep an eye on is the 2004 congressional elections.

Uh, I don't think so. The AWB expires on 9/13/04, nearly 2 months before the '04 elections. The election to watch was the 2002 one, which was actually pretty good for the pro-gun side (there are still some miracles). Let's just hope that Tom DeLay kills every single version of a renewal (really "expansion") of the AWB put forth by the gun grabbers.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

The AWB expires on 9/13/04, nearly 2 months before the '04 elections.
This means that the vote on the new AWB could play a part in the 2004 campaigns, right? "Vote for (or against) this new AWB or I won't vote you back into office in 6 weeks!"

Given the current population in Congress, the odds of a new AWB passing are slim, right?


I know it's a wee bit too early to tell, but does anyone know how those 2004 elections may turn out? If it starts to look like our side is gonna lose ground in the polls, would Feinstein & Co. perhaps hold off on their bill until after the elections? If so, what are the implications? AWB #1 dies mid September, and the soonest a replacement could be passed (assuming they wait for the new session) would be late January. That would mean there's about a 4 month window where there is no ban. Manufacturers and owners could scramble to produce as many new "assault weapons" and regular magazines as possible during the 4 month window, right?

Is this sound reasoning? Or am I smoking crack? Any experts care to speculate? (about the AWB, not my crack habbit...)

- Roland

[pax]

Good question.

I'm moving this to the Legal & Political forum, which is the right place to discuss laws and the politics behind the laws.

Should get plenty of activity ... :D

pax

[Fly320s]

...as does the 1989 executive order banning the import of some semi-automatic rifles (AKs, Uzis etc.)

Does anyone know the name or reference number to that executive order?

It's time for my weekly letter writing to G.W so I thought I would ask him to overturn the order. Can he even do that?

[Zach S]

If the AWB sunsets, then I get a collapsable stock for the AR15 that I should have by then...

[Hkmp5sd]

Does anyone know the name or reference number to that executive order?

There is no executive order. Bush(41) instructed the director of ATF to review the criteria for determining what were "sporting" firearms. Under the '68 CGA, non-sporting firearms may not be imported into the country for sale to civilians.

This "ban" can go away merely by the director of ATF changing what constitutes a sporting firearm back to what it used to be.

Report and Recommendation on the Importability of Certain Semiautomatic Rifles - 1989 (http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/atf_1989_report.txt)

[Bacchus]

Quoted:

" The AWB does not affect the Brady Law at all and all of its provisions still remain in effect as does the 1989 executive order banning the import of some semi-automatic rifles (AKs, Uzis etc.)"

So, does the AWB affect the 10 round mag limit, or is that the Brady Bill?

I'm confused.

[Hkmp5sd]

Magazine capacity limit is part of the AW ban and goes away.

[Standing Wolf]

The 1994 AWB will sunset. That is a certainty.

I sincerely hope you're right!

[Bostonterrier97]

If the AWB isn't renewed..their will be no longer be two price tiers for AR15's. Prices of "Pre-Ban" guns will plummet to be the same price as "Post Ban" guns.

Of course here in the DPRK (no..that isn't North Korea...it is the Democratic Peoples Republic of Kalifornia). The Expiration of the AWB won't make any difference since Assault Weapons are permanently BANNED in Kalifornia.

[citizen]

So what I'm hearing is real estate values there will drop next Sept., as "Americans"
make it back to the U.S.A.:eek: :neener:

[gunsmith]

could overturn the AWB in CA as well,that will be a hoot!

[SaintofKillers]

What will really happen is that as soon as it sunsets every major city in the USA will erupt in the worst violence ever seen in this country. Criminals will be running down to their local 7-11s and picking up M16s,AKs,M60s, SPAS12guages, and the GE mini gun all which are going to be dirt cheap, free with a coupon from the NRA and easily concealable when only wearing jockey shorts. Blood will run in the streets, the police will be outgunned, the military will be brought in to quiet the disturbance, all soldiers will be shot by high powered armor piercing 22 caliber bullets that explode with the force of 50 megatons upon impact and are prone to only hitting small children. Every student in every high school will blow away the english teacher with thier Tec-9 turned sideways. Also any firearm that is not locked up behind 6 feet of steel door will break loose from its chains that was the AWB and animate itself and start shooting helpless victims on sight. James and Sarah Brady, Chuck Schumer, and Diane Fienstein will immediately renounce their US citzenship and move to London to live with Madonna and Alec Baldwin because they know that at least that place is safe. 357 mag rounds will then have the pwr to go through engine blocks on cars and the streets will be filled with scenes like seen in the Wild Bunch and Heat. Or nothing new will happen crime will not increase but my firearm collection will suddenly grow 2or 3 guns larger.:scrutiny: