U.S. Firearms Owners better off now or in 1990?

[MatthewVanitas]

The Question:

Comparing the current year to 1990, do you think American Firearms Owners are better or worse off? Speaking purely in terms of gun-specific issues

Please explain your answer if you feel so inclined.

(Note: we're not comparing 2005 to 1785, not commenting on general Constituational trends, what's happening in Australia, etc.)

___________________

I've only been into firearms since 1998, and a lot of things seem to have been improving in recent years.

+ Shall-issue CCW continues to expand and reciprocate
+ Vermont carry has spread to AK, perhaps WY, maybe later MT and UT
+ SB 397 is looking good
+ A huge marketplace of good-quality modern firearms
+ Increased interest in CCW, tactical shooting competitions, etc
+ Increased acceptance of "modern" weapons among pro-gun types
+ AWB rose and fell, doing minor annoyance but providing a great wakeup call

I look forward to hearing your comments, especially as many of you have seen these trends move and change since 1950. Thanks for your time,

-MV

 

[geekWithA.45]

Arguably better off than 90.

The Clinton era damage is mostly repaired, plus:

VAST majority of states are shall issue
Lawsuit immunity will be coming in
The collectivoleftists are in big decline.

In 90, the forces of organized gun bigotry were approaching the height of their strength, and the Millyun Mommies could claim at least a couple hundred thou. Now they're down to a dozen or so, and their "collective rights" theories and so forth are largely discredited.

If we can sustain the motion in the right direction, and disrupt whatever counterattacks they're cooking up, it might just could be that we're over the hump.

 

[NineseveN]

I have to agree with all that's been said so far, but I think we should underscore the trend that non-traditional types of folks are getting more into firearm sports other than hunting. Lot's of girls, young guys, young girls and various types of people are out shooting or interested in it. And for a good number of them, CCW, a Glock and an AR are the next step after their target .22.

Also, the NRA, which is a love, hate, love relationship for me, bailed out of Ohio over their AWB. I am renewing my membership for the first time since the last time I felt they screwed us over (us meaning, non-hunting, EBR, no clay, trap, skeet people). Hopefully they stay tough on ALL firearms issues from here on out.

 

[White Horseradish]

Was there a barrel import ban in 1990?

 

[dolanp]

I think it all depends on your specific state's attitude. On the Federal level I think we are hovering around the same level it seems. Here in the state of TX we have come a very long way since 1990 in pushing gun owner's rights. CHL being the main one, and finally we are getting no-license car carry next month, plus a host of small other things that help us out. There's always more work to be done but fortunately we are moving in the correct direction here instead of the opposite one like, say, California.

 

[Yowza]

Well, I have a CCW permit now that I couldn't have gotten in 1990. Of course, I wasn't 21 in 1990, but that's beside the point. I have a C&R license too, but I don't know when those were started.

The advent of the internet has certainly made self-education on gun politics and safety issues much easier. I wouldn't know 1/1000th of what I know now if it wasn't for The High Road and The Firing Line.

The lawsuit immunity deal will be helpful, but I'm not aware of those lawsuits being a problem that far back. There are a lot of cool new toys on the near horizon if the rumors are to be believed, so that's a plus.

Of course, I would probably have a different take overall if I lived in California, Maryland, or New Jersey.

Rick

 

[CajunBass]

I think we're on the offensive, and need to keep up the pressure and continue to make them respond to us.

 

[Ridgeway]

depends imo
on a federal level it's better, as well as in most states

but look @ CA- they are most definitly worse, as well as other states with 'assault weapon' bans, mag cap bans etc

 

[cuchulainn]

I voted better because I live in a state where things have gotten better.

But the answer really does depend on which state you live in.

You need 50 separate polls.

 

[Rebar]

All in all, we're a lot better off, and we're set up to get things better still. In some places, like CA, NJ, and MA, things are pretty bad, but the only thing that could help there is a good Supreme Court ruling.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Was there a barrel import ban in 1990?

The law that the import ban is based on was passed in 1991.

Having been both a gun owner and an evil black rifle owner in 1990, I would say we are much better off now than we were then.

The biggest change has been that the media no longer has a monopoly on the debate of gun control legislation. It used to be that the only place you could hear the pro-gun side of the story was in one of the NRAs magazines. Where before a good pro-RKBA group had a mostly limited local effect, now it can have a national or even global effect and promote RKBA to people who would have never even heard of them in the 1990s.

Most of the 1990s weren't too great for us; but 1994 was the highwater mark for the antis. Since then they have been losing consistently and are now even being forced to play defense (though not as much as I would like).

However, here are some things we enjoy now that we didn't in 1990:

Shall-issue or Vermont concealed carry in about 80% of the states.
Gun manufacturers protected from frivolous lawsuits
A huge amount of scholarship published supporting the Second as an individual right
Better technology for shooting sports
Pilots allowed to defend the flight deck with firearms
Official DOJ policy is the Second Amendment is an individual right

 

[thebigc]

the country in general is better off but here in ma most of the laws that screwed us over were passed in the late 90's

 

[AZ Jeff]

Was there a barrel import ban in 1990?

I would hardly call that recent ruling by ATF, as onerous as it might be, a barometer of the gun rights situation across the US. Yes, it's a major aggravation that the ATF has made this ruling at this time, but when compared to all the ADVANCES in gun rights that have occurred in the past 15 years, it's only a small "bump in the road".

 

[Black Majik]

Its better in everywhere else except here.

I want an AR-15, a 30 round magazine, flash hiders, AK's, HK91's, AUG's, Suppressors, and even the Colt Special Combat Government that I can't buy cuz its not Cali approved.

The 75 degree weather and beautiful women keep me busy though.

 

[MechAg94]

Better for Texas.

I think the AWB ban was the beginning of the decline. I think a lot of people saw what was sold before the ban and what was sold after and realized it was pointless. The instant check system also took away a lot of gun grabber thunder even though it does inconvenience gun buyers sometimes.

After that, the year 2000 scare saw a lot of people worried about safety and SHTF situations. In South and central Texas, that train killer that was on the loose a few years ago saw alot of elderly buying pistols and such. A guy I know a guy who ran a pawn shop at the time and he said they were selling all their old revolvers and small handguns.

The Concealed Handgun License went through in Texas without blood running into the gutters and rush hour shootouts. Happenned in a lot of other states as well.

As was mentioned before, the Internet has come into its own since 1990. The rise of Talk Radio has also led to more people questioning the common "wisdom" of network news and TV and forming their own opinion rather than parroting others. I used to work witha girl who didn't like guns. She at least didn't have any problem with others doing whatever they wanted. I could appreciate that. (Her husband owned a shutgun and hunting rifle)

I think all that has led to more of the non-gun owners realizing that much of the BS the gun grabbers were screaming just was not true and that they were often more radical than the NRA and the guy down the street who owns guns. I think more people were adopting a Live and Let Live attitude regardless of their opinion.

Lastly, I think most gun organizations have done a real good job of getting their ideas across without coming across as radicals. I think the gun grabber groups have failed in this.

 

[hifi]

Was there a barrel import ban in 1990?

Or numerous state "Assault Weapon" Bans. Plus there was still some choice back then in what you could buy. The MG ban was not that old, so you could actually still afford them. The import ban had just started so they were still plentiful...nowadays we have to put up with junk like WASR's and crap like that.. we have background checks..gunshops are getting more scarce..

And average Joes could actually get an FFL and not have to pay a gunshop's utility bills and employee's wages..

 

[White Horseradish]

Jeff, it may be a minor bump to you, but to me it will put quite a few guns out of reach. We just haven't seen the effects yet.

 

[hifi]

I would hardly call that recent ruling by ATF, as onerous as it might be, a barometer of the gun rights situation across the US. Yes, it's a major aggravation that the ATF has made this ruling at this time, but when compared to all the ADVANCES in gun rights that have occurred in the past 15 years, it's only a small "bump in the road".

I've recently been starting to get into military style rifles and I don't consider it a "small bump in the road."

Not saying you're one, but that's kinda like the once a year deer/duck hunters who support Kerry types because 'we don't NEED those types of guns'. Or the people who con themselves into believing Bush is pro-gun, but won't arm pilots and hasn't supported a single measure to repeal any known gun laws. Not only that, but he is on record numerous times as spewing the gun banners rhetoric rather than calling them on it and he is also on record as supporting the AWB.

 

[Ala Dan]

King George II has corrected most of the damage done by the
Klinton Kronies. Now, we need to focus on Kronie #2's defeat
in 2008.

 

[hillbilly]

In 1990 in Arkansas, CCW was still five years off.

hillbilly

 

[lee n. field]

Mixed bag, net better.

A lot more cool stuff out there. 2 Vermont carry states. A small and dwindling minority of states with no provisions for citizen carry and a growing list of states with shall issue.

Legally, the anti-rights people are making essentially no headway, except in pestholes like Califnordica.

BUT. But, the whole looming War on Something or Other, and the growing police state surveillance apparatus is a definite minus.

 

[ruger270man]

yeah a little better.. more CCW states, but also some stupid bans, such as 50 BMG in california

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Better in MO. CCW passed,

Demo Governor Vetoed
Demo Governor Veto overridden
Demos went to court (staffed with demos)
Demos lost in Supreme Court
all counties started to issue except for counties controlled by Demos (KC STL STL County)
Demo Governor replaced with Repub.
All counties now issue, but a large population got their CCW's from Florida.

Like guns? don't vote for Demos...

 

[AZ Jeff]

I've recently been starting to get into military style rifles and I don't consider it a "small bump in the road."

It's my understanding that the latest ruling by ATF precludes importing surplus military arms that have been demilled if the demilled parts still include the original barrel. Is that correct?

If so, I see the marketplace EASILY coming up with a solution for this new restriction: aftermarket barrels that provide the part needed to complete the kit, just as aftermarket receivers and fire control parts have materialized.

Tell me why you don't expect to see that.................

 

[Kharn]

The only nation-wide events that have really changed from 1990 to today is liberalization of concealed carry and the ATF getting uppity on imports. I'd say we're way better off, I'd glady pay an extra $100 per AK if I could carry my pistol anywhere I went. (even though its still a stupid import law :banghead: )

Kharn