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| Dianne Feinstein launches assault rifle ban and proposes register of owners | Dianne Feinstein launches assault rifle ban and proposes register of owners |
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| Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced to Congress a revised assault weapons bill that would prohibit the manufacture or importation of 158 specific military-style assault rifles, ban large-capacity magazines of more than 10 rounds and possibly introduce a system of federal registration for all existing owners of such weapons and magazines. | Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced to Congress a revised assault weapons bill that would prohibit the manufacture or importation of 158 specific military-style assault rifles, ban large-capacity magazines of more than 10 rounds and possibly introduce a system of federal registration for all existing owners of such weapons and magazines. |
| The Feinstein proposals were unveiled at a Washington press conference in which several of the listed weapons were on display, courtesy of the DC police, in contravention of the city's own firearms laws. The push amounts to the most concerted effort in a generation to remove some of the most powerful and rapid-firing weapons from circulation. | The Feinstein proposals were unveiled at a Washington press conference in which several of the listed weapons were on display, courtesy of the DC police, in contravention of the city's own firearms laws. The push amounts to the most concerted effort in a generation to remove some of the most powerful and rapid-firing weapons from circulation. |
| The bill is likely to go substantially further than the previous assault weapons ban, which was passed in 1994 and allowed to lapse 10 years later. Though the fine details of the bill have not been released, Feinstein said it would proscribe 158 specifically named military-style firearms that would include AR-15 assault rifles similar to the Bushmaster rifle that was used by a gunman who killed 20 small children at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut on 14 December. | The bill is likely to go substantially further than the previous assault weapons ban, which was passed in 1994 and allowed to lapse 10 years later. Though the fine details of the bill have not been released, Feinstein said it would proscribe 158 specifically named military-style firearms that would include AR-15 assault rifles similar to the Bushmaster rifle that was used by a gunman who killed 20 small children at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut on 14 December. |
| Since the previous assault rifle ban expired under a "sunset clause" in 2004, Feinstein said, "more than 350 people have been killed with assault weapons and more than 450 people have been injured. We should be outraged by how easy it is for the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to obtain these lethal weapons." | Since the previous assault rifle ban expired under a "sunset clause" in 2004, Feinstein said, "more than 350 people have been killed with assault weapons and more than 450 people have been injured. We should be outraged by how easy it is for the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to obtain these lethal weapons." |
| Feinstein said her bill would incorporate lessons learned from the 1994 iteration of the ban. Last time round, the ban defined assault weapons as those having detachable magazines and at least two identifying characteristics – a loophole that manufacturers had used to circumvent the legislation by making minor alterations to a gun's features. | Feinstein said her bill would incorporate lessons learned from the 1994 iteration of the ban. Last time round, the ban defined assault weapons as those having detachable magazines and at least two identifying characteristics – a loophole that manufacturers had used to circumvent the legislation by making minor alterations to a gun's features. |
| The new bill will tighten the definition to just one characteristic, which would be drafted to include the gadgetry adopted in the latest models of assault rifles such as the "slide-iron stock" that mimics fully automatic weapons, "thumbhole stocks" and "bullet buttons". In addition, there would be no sunset clause after 10 years – Feinstein said the intention was to "dry up the supply of these weapons over time, as no weapon will be taken from anyone". | The new bill will tighten the definition to just one characteristic, which would be drafted to include the gadgetry adopted in the latest models of assault rifles such as the "slide-iron stock" that mimics fully automatic weapons, "thumbhole stocks" and "bullet buttons". In addition, there would be no sunset clause after 10 years – Feinstein said the intention was to "dry up the supply of these weapons over time, as no weapon will be taken from anyone". |
| One of the most contentious elements of the Feinstein bill that is likely to be presented to the US senate was not mentioned at the launch. A summary of the new assault rifle ban published on Feinstein's website suggests that it will require federal registration of all existing owners of the proscribed assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. | One of the most contentious elements of the Feinstein bill that is likely to be presented to the US senate was not mentioned at the launch. A summary of the new assault rifle ban published on Feinstein's website suggests that it will require federal registration of all existing owners of the proscribed assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. |
| Such existing weapons, dubbed "grandfathered weapons" in the bill summary, would require FBI background checks for all changes of ownership and would have to have their type and serial number lodged with a federal database. Owners would have to be identified by photograph and fingerprints. The identification of the owner would have to be certified by local law enforcers under a registration scheme run and paid for by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. | Such existing weapons, dubbed "grandfathered weapons" in the bill summary, would require FBI background checks for all changes of ownership and would have to have their type and serial number lodged with a federal database. Owners would have to be identified by photograph and fingerprints. The identification of the owner would have to be certified by local law enforcers under a registration scheme run and paid for by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. |
| The registration scheme would be designed to avoid one of the main weaknesses of the 1994 assault rifle ban, which did not apply to any weapons made or bought before that date and therefore did not touch millions of lethal guns already in circulation. But the proposal, should it make its way into the final bill, would be a red rag to the gun lobby's bull. | The registration scheme would be designed to avoid one of the main weaknesses of the 1994 assault rifle ban, which did not apply to any weapons made or bought before that date and therefore did not touch millions of lethal guns already in circulation. But the proposal, should it make its way into the final bill, would be a red rag to the gun lobby's bull. |
| The head of the most powerful pro-gun group, the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, this week decried any federal registration of existing guns, saying that its only purpose would be "to either tax 'em or take 'em". | The head of the most powerful pro-gun group, the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, this week decried any federal registration of existing guns, saying that its only purpose would be "to either tax 'em or take 'em". |
| Feinstein was candid about the hard road ahead in trying to steer the bill through a House of Representatives dominated by Republicans with close NRA ties and a Senate with several Democrats from rural constituencies in which guns are ubiquitous. "This is really an uphill road. if anyone asks can we win this, the answer is we don't know," she said. | Feinstein was candid about the hard road ahead in trying to steer the bill through a House of Representatives dominated by Republicans with close NRA ties and a Senate with several Democrats from rural constituencies in which guns are ubiquitous. "This is really an uphill road. if anyone asks can we win this, the answer is we don't know," she said. |
| But advocates of greater gun controls are hoping that in the wake of the Newtown shooting and the national revulsion it caused, moderate and law-abiding gun owners can be persuaded to come on board. Feinstein stressed that 2,200 gun models were specifically named in the bill as being exempt from the prohibitions. | But advocates of greater gun controls are hoping that in the wake of the Newtown shooting and the national revulsion it caused, moderate and law-abiding gun owners can be persuaded to come on board. Feinstein stressed that 2,200 gun models were specifically named in the bill as being exempt from the prohibitions. |
| The sponsors of the bill are clearly calculating that their strongest card is public sympathy for the victims and families of Newtown and other recent gun rampages. A letter, written jointly by the families of seven of the 12 people who died in the Aurora cinema shooting last July, was read out at the launch. | The sponsors of the bill are clearly calculating that their strongest card is public sympathy for the victims and families of Newtown and other recent gun rampages. A letter, written jointly by the families of seven of the 12 people who died in the Aurora cinema shooting last July, was read out at the launch. |
| The families said that their loved ones had been murdered "by the exact weapons and high-capacity magazines proposed in the Feinstein legislation. They were gunned down and entire generations of our families taken away in a matter of seconds." | The families said that their loved ones had been murdered "by the exact weapons and high-capacity magazines proposed in the Feinstein legislation. They were gunned down and entire generations of our families taken away in a matter of seconds." |
| In 2012, the letter continued, "this nation saw 15 mass shootings. What have we become when people are losing their lives just going to school, watching a movie or buying Christmas gifts?" | In 2012, the letter continued, "this nation saw 15 mass shootings. What have we become when people are losing their lives just going to school, watching a movie or buying Christmas gifts?" |
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