How will our gun rights change in the 21st century?

[armed85]

This is all speculation, but it's interesting to think about nevertheless. It's safe to say the United States will continue on for another 100 years. How will our gun rights change in the 21st century?

In the 21st century, will we civilians continue to purchase: "military-style" semiautomatic rifles, semiautomatic rifles in general, high powered Magnum rifles, .50 caliber rifles, and standard capacity (also known as "high capacity") magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds.

Do you think the National Instanst Background Check System (NICS) will be dismantled and civilians can purchase firearms without any background check, paperwork, or waiting periods?

I believe the answer to this question is yes, but I think it will be a challenge for the "Brandy background check" or NICS to be thrown out.

The Democrats are not stupid and know the effect of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. I base this on the loss of Congress and the Presidency in 2000.

I'm not a subscriber to Salon magazine, but I did find this article Why Democrats dumped gun control in a Google search on the subject: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/04/18/dems_and_guns/

April 18, 2007 | Monday's mass shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech will undoubtedly lead, as so many tragedies do, to a search for answers, for those measures that will ensure that something like the massacre in Blacksburg never happens again. And that search will almost inevitably lead, as it has in the past, to a discussion of gun control.

During the Bush administration, however, gun control has been all but dead as a political issue, and though George W. Bush is one of the most pro-gun presidents in history, much of the responsibility lies with Democrats. Once a popular talking point for Democratic officials and candidates, gun control has been shoved to the background over the past six years, as the party -- trying not to alienate gun-owning voters in swing states -- has cooled its rhetoric on the issue and tamped down its action. Gun control advocates haven't won a major victory since Bill Clinton was president, and since then the main anti-gun legislation of the Clinton era has either died or been stripped of its teeth.

"We've gone backwards in a lot of areas," says Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "In effect, the only real gun law we've got on the books now is the Brady background checks."

I never heard of RealClearPolitics, but I also found an article VTech Shows Gun Control Has Lost Its Political Luster in a Google search on the subject:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/04/vtech_shows_gun_control_has_lo.html

The absence of concrete efforts by big-name Democrats to increase gun control is a sure sign that even with the Virginia Tech massacre the issue is no longer a major subject of dispute in American politics.

The shooting in which 33 people died was the deadliest in U.S. history, but generated much less gun control buzz than previous less bloody episodes because Democrats have decided it is too costly politically for them to push further restrictions.

It is further evidence that the pro-gun control folks won the battle of the early 90s over limiting access to things like semi-automatic weapons, but lost the war in their efforts to make U.S. laws as strict as those in European nations.

Don't look for that dynamic to change. Democrats, historically the backers of gun control, have decided it cost them too many votes in rural areas, especially in key presidential battleground states.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid immediately warned his colleagues against a rush to push gun control following the tragedy. No presidential candidates jumped forward with new proposals.

Public opinion, even before the massacre, favored stricter gun control, but the momentum and enthusiasm has been with its opponents. The exit polls in 2004 showed more voters own guns than in the past and they vote Republican.

 

[griz]

Assuming you mean the 22nd century (we're in the 21st now), I think firearms of today will be considered relics of the past. Sort of like a long bow today. The "assult weapon" of the 22nd will have capability to stun and individual or deliver a bomb like blast to an entire area. Just a guess on my part, but of course I won't be around to see it.

 

[armed85]

No, I meant the 21st century. As in, today.

The point of my post is will we enjoy the same weapons in the near future as we do today? Those being AR-15s and other semiautomatic "military style" rifles, .50 BMG, etc.

The last series of gun control laws were at the end of the 20th during the 1990s as we all know.

I'm optimistic that the 90s mark an end to gun control. People are starting to wake up to the fact that the "gun free zones" and such are not making us safer thanks to Virgina Tech., the latest mall shooting, and other acts of domestic terrorism.

 

[cajun47]

i would most likely vote for a Democrat thats pro gun and anti abortion. i doubt i would ever see that on a national level though. so i stick with republicans.

 

[Vaarok]

Expect more plastic and far more widespread.

Surplus is drying up, historically cheap deer rifles like Winchester '94s are going up in value because of scarcity, history/collectability, and manufacture cost, and most new shooters are exposed to, if not wholeheartedly into the Black Plastic Cult.

Which is a good thing!

Plus, the internet makes us faster, more responsive, and better informed than ever before. Which means we can throw our weight around more effectively. Just ask Zumbo.

Ten years ago, unless you were a subscriber to that mag, you'd probably never have known.

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

I think things look pretty good actually. Most Americans agree we have a right to bear arms and its protected in the Constitution. The upcoming SCOTUS case should rule in our favor.

We'll have chances to get change, but if we do or not is still up in the air.

I'd really like to see California get railed so we could get our freedoms back over here.

 

[Flame Red]

Look what happened in the 20th Century:

* Machine guns strictly controlled by NFA
* 'New' Machine gun ownserhip banned by Reagan executive order
* Birth of the FFL monopoly and gone is your ability to get your firearms from the local hardware store
* Klinton AWB
* Various State/City bans

So much for

the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

I can only imagine what someone like Broom Hildary will do.

 

[armed85]

Flame Red, wouldn't you agree that from Reagan to Clinton there was a great deal of public support for gun control?

Today, that public support is all but gone. This is evident in the Democrats shying away and softening their stance on gun control.

It's hard to say whether or not in 2010 we'll be able to go out and buy a new 30 round magazine to go along with a new AR-15. There are a vocal minority that wishes all semiautomatic rifles to be banned along with handguns and standard capacity magazines. They will always be with us.

Believe it or not, Hillary might not be as bad as we think she'll be. At least as far as the 2nd amendment and gun rights is concerned. She wont want to loose Congress to the Republicans like her husband did. This is all assuming she wins in 2008 which I think is unlikely. My vote is going to Ron Paul (he just raised another $5 million dollars in one day).

I welcome any opposing views.