AWB sunset--unprecedented?

[corncob]

Assuming the Ban expires on Sept. 14th, how big of a deal do you think it will be, historically speaking?

I understand that the '86 law rolled back some of the previous laws--is that correct?

And I'm not sure but I think there used to be a national waiting period to buy a handgun that expired--is that true?

I've heard some people saying this will be a first-time occurance. Which is actually the case? And does anyone think the AWB sunset means we won't have to worry about "feature" bans in the future, other than the import restrictions?

 

[Brett Bellmore]

You don't win a war the first time you win a battle. If it were up to the Senate, the thing would have been renewed, and it's too close in the House for comfort; One bad election, or the Republican leadership deciding that betraying us on this would be advantageous, and the ban would be back.

For that matter, it's not gone yet. I'm not breaking out the champagne until it's actually expired.

 

[geekWithA.45]

The handgun wait was part of the Brady law, which swapped out the wait for NICS.

A lot of the more heinous elements of the '68 GCA went out with the 86 FOPA. In fact, reforming the GCA was the main thrust of FOPA, until the MG amendment got tacked on at the last minute, essentially closing the NFA registry to new full autos.

A lot of what went on in 86 was the result of this report:

http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm

 

[Beren]

until the MG amendment got tacked on at the last minute

It's a crying shame THAT particular bit of law doesn't have a sunset clause.

 

[corncob]

I actually read that report (following the link from the Geek's fine blog) some time ago, and it is hard to imagine that a group of actual US Senators produced this. It's NOT hard to believe that it is not often talked about or referenced, outside of gun-owner circles. I didn't even know it existed.

I feel the temptation to claim a large victory for what's left of the BOR, assuming this thing (the AWB) is allowed to sunset, but I guess it really isn't that big a deal. It is really more the result of this being an election year, I think, than a shift in the priorities of the elected things.

At least if it does expire, the supply of good magazines will be heartily replenished, so if something like this ever comes up again, it hopefully won't be any worse.

It will be most interesting to see how the media deal with the Ban after it has expired. I imagine, barring any "high-profile" assault weapon killing sprees, they will not speak of it again, lest the "reasonable and moderate middle" connect the dots between the Ban's expiration and all the blood not flowing in the streets.