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A failure to learn….

Today, California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and a number of other Democratic legislators rolled out a NEW “assault weapons” (whatever “THEY” are!) ban in Congress. SFGate.com says:

The measure would ban 158 specific military style rifles <emphasis mine>, including Bushmaster XM15 that Adam Lanza used in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and 6 adults.

It also would outlaw ammunition magazines with a capacity above 10 rounds.

Feinstein introduced the original assault weapons ban, which became law in 1994 but expired in 2004.

The new ban differs from the old one in several respects.

There is no sunset provision so the bill, so that if it becomes law it would not expire. <emphasis mine>

It is time to recognize exactly what the proposed legislation represents. First, there is no such thing as an “assault weapon;” the emotionally-charged term is an invention of politics and the media. True military selective-fire (semi-automatic or fully automatic [machine gun]) weapons are ALREADY banned, and have been for a very long time. The previous (ineffective) and currently-proposed “assault weapons” bans restricted/would restrict semi-automatic firearms that “look” menacing to certain people. SFGate continues:

The legislation also would ban any military-style weapon with a detachable magazine and a single military-style feature, such as a pistol grip, a flash suppressor or a bayonet lug or grenade launcher. The 1994 ban barred weapons with a detachable magazine plus two military-style features, which gave gun manufacturers too much leeway in refashioning weapons to comply with the law, Feinstein said.

If the new proposal were to become law, a legal weapon could have a detachable magazine but not a pistol grip, for example. Under the previous law, such a weapon would have been allowed.

What does a pistol grip or a detachable magazine have to do with VIOLENCE, you might ask? :-)

The proposed legislation ALSO represents the failure of the Democratic Party leaders to realize that they DO NOT REPRESENT the views of many members of their own party in the United States. The Democratic leaders ALSO fail to understand the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights, and that it was included by Jefferson and Madison to allow Americans to defend themselves against their own government, in case that government should become tyrannical.

Second Amendment rights are NOT a “Republican vs. Democrat” issue. Folks in the San Fransisco Bay Area sometimes do not realize that many Democrats in other places do not ascribe to their leftist interpretations of the Bill of Rights. SFGate.com does note:

It <Feinstein’s proposed legislation> would protect 2,258 hunting and sporting rifles and shotguns, a provision aimed at undercutting gun-owner fears that Congress is intent on seizing legal guns in the aftermath of Newtown.

As someone who has lived in the Bay Area for over 20 year (after moving from Ohio), I would encourage other American defenders of the Bill of Rights to NOT be fooled by the (apparent) concession to hunters and sportspeople.

It is a ruse.

I have watched the California Legislature, now overwhelmingly dominated by Democrats in BOTH houses. repeatedly attempt to whittle away the Second Amendment rights of Californians through “incrementalism,” or a “slippery slope” (let’s restrict magazine size; let’s restrict firearms that “look” a certain way; let’s restrict .50 caliber firearms; let’s restrict “sniper rifles,” etc.) over the last 20 years. I do not think that the left-leaning Democrats in California represent the views of Democrats in other states.

The American people, in the Presidential Election of 2012, defeated elitist Republicans who would have thrown even more support to the top 1% of income earners, to the detriment of the 99% “lower class” of Americans. (There is no longer a “middle class.”)

Now, Americans who still treasure the liberties earned for them in over 200 years of history, must defeat the agenda of Democratic Party leaders who would strip them away, a tiny bit at a time. Sometimes, the “bit” is NOT so “tiny.”

The real causes of violence are much harder to address. Violence is inherent in our species, and in related species, like the chimpanzee. A shoddy American health-care system (which the Republicans would have made EVEN MORE shoddy) has utterly failed to address the issue of widespread mental illness in our country.

Having failed to address the REAL causes of violence, and not wanting to appear impotent, Democratic leaders are, once again, suggesting “solutions” that have failed, again and again. I personally don’t believe that the Democratic leaders are promoting even more gun control because they think it will curb violence. They are smarter than that. So are you. You can think about what the REAL agenda is. For that matter, consider that many of the foremost anti-gun advocates, including Senator Feinstein, have obtained “concealed carry” permits, for THEMSELVES!

SFGate.com quotes the National Rifle Association:

“Sen. Feinstein has been trying to ban guns from law-abiding citizens for decades,” the National Rifle Association said in a statement. “The American people know gun bans do not work and we are confident Congress will reject Senator Feinstein’s wrong-headed approach.”

The approach is irrational. History has shown that gun control measures do not curb violence. Even if they DID, laws only affect the law-abiding. Criminals will ignore laws.

That is why they are criminals.

Americans who oppose violence in our culture should seek real SOLUTIONS, not “tried-and-failed” panaceas. This looks like the time to contact our representatives in Congress in overwhelming numbers to OPPOSE Senator Feinstein’s proposed legislation.

-Bill at

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