Please find below the latest NRA-ILA Fact Sheet, and forward to your
volunteer networks. It will be posted today to the
www.nraila.org
website under "Fact Sheets".
Thank you.
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McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns
Than The Infamous Clinton Gun Ban
On Feb. 14, 2007, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 1022,
a bill with the stated purpose, "to reauthorize the assault weapons ban,
and for other purposes." McCarthy's choice of words warrants
explanation.
Obviously, what she means by "assault weapons ban" is the
now-discredited Clinton Gun Ban of 1994. Congress allowed the ban to
expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that studies by
the Congressional Research Service, congressionally-mandated studies,
and studies by state and local law enforcement agencies showed that guns
affected by the ban had been used in only a small percentage of crime,
before and after the ban was imposed.
Reauthorizing the Clinton ban would be bad enough. The guns that it
temporarily banned-very widely used for target shooting, hunting and
home protection-are still used in only a small percentage of crime. But
McCarthy's "other purposes" would make matters even worse. H.R. 1022
would ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions more guns,
including:
. Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban. (The Clinton ban
dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have.
Manufacturers modified new guns to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022
would ban the modified guns too.)
. Guns exempted by the Clinton ban. (Ruger Mini-14s and -30s, and Ranch
Rifles; .30 cal. carbines; and fixed-magazine, semi-automatic,
center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.)
. All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta
and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting and self-defense. H.R.
1022 would ban them because they have "any characteristic that can
function as a grip," and would also ban their main component, called the
"receiver.")
. All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example,
the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have "any
characteristic that can function as a grip."
. Target shooting rifles. (E.g., the three centerfire rifles most
popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield
M1A and the M1 "Garand.")
. Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle an Attorney General one day
claims isn't "sporting," even though the constitutions of the U.S. and
44 states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use
guns for defense.
. 65 named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto
fixed-magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity; and frames, receivers
and parts used to repair or refurbish guns.
H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the
Clinton ban, ban the sale of a legally-owned "assault weapon" with a
magazine of over 10 rounds capacity, and begin backdoor registration of
guns, by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and
parts to be conducted through licensed dealers. Finally, whereas the
Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would
be a permanent ban.