K-Romulus
Member
Relevant portion of article from today's paper:
http://www.examiner.com/US-a40574~Brady_s_wife_urges_ban_on_assault_weapons.html
My requisite email to the editors:
I wish "good luck" to the guys who made it today's hearing . . . I tried to get the time off but failed
http://www.examiner.com/US-a40574~Brady_s_wife_urges_ban_on_assault_weapons.html
Brady’s wife urges ban on assault weapons
Anna Bailey, The Examiner
March 8, 2006 12:00 AM (16 hours ago)
Annapolis -
The woman whose husband was shot in the head during an assassination attempt on President Reagan wrote to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich on Tuesday in support of several health initiatives and a ban on assault weapons like the Bushmaster used in the 2002 sniper shootings.
“These are weapons of war,” Sarah Brady said. “They’re not weapons you use for any legitimate purpose. They’re not weapons you use for hunting or target practice.”
Jim Brady, Reagan’s press secretary, was permanently disabled as a result of the gunshot wound he suffered in the 1981 attack.
Since a federal ban expired in 2004, state bans on assault weapons are crucial, his wife said.
A bill introduced by Del. Neil Quinter, D-Howard, would outlaw 45 rapid-fire, military-style weapons.
*(I cut out the rest of the article about how her letter also supports a cigarette tax increase, smoking ban in restaurants, and more funding for HIV/AIDS patients)*
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My requisite email to the editors:
I would like to point out what I believe to be several factual errors in this story.
Brady is quoted as saying the firearms to be banned as so-called "assault weapons" are not “use[d] for any legitimate purpose . . . They're not weapons you use for hunting or target practice.” These assertions are incorrect.
A visit to most any organized target-shooting competition in the US, long-range or other, will show that the number one rifle in competitive use is the AR-15, a rifle specifically banned under the bill. Also, a quick visit to any of the area's local shooting ranges will show that plenty of law-abiding firearm owners do use their so-called "assault weapons" for recreational target practice.
The article went on to describe the firearms to be banned under the proposed bill as "rapid fire, military style."
Other than the one Mossberg Model 500 pump-action shotgun banned under the bill, which must be manually operated to load each round to be fired, the firearms banned under the proposed law all load and fire just one round per trigger squeeze. This is just like a revolver, and most definitely NOT like a machine gun, which continues to load and fire all of its ammunition until its trigger is released. I do not believe that any credible authority on firearms would consider a revolver to be a "rapid fire" type of gun.
As for the "military style" label, these firearms for sale to the civilian market are as to military ordnance as a Ford Fusion in the local car dealership is to a NASCAR race car. Appearance is meaningless; it is what is under the hood that counts.
I wish "good luck" to the guys who made it today's hearing . . . I tried to get the time off but failed
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