Assault Weapon and Firearms Legislation from Senator Dianne Feinstein

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Today Dianne Feinstein will introduce a bill related to the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Senator Feinstein's website (Assault Weapons - Issues - United States Senator Dianne Feinstein) summarizes the legislations as follows:

Bans the sale, transfer, importation, or manufacturing of:

• 120 specifically-named firearms;
  
• Certain other semiautomatic rifles, handguns, shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine and have one or more military characteristics; and
  
• Semiautomatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds.
  

Strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by:

• Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test;
  
• Eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test; and
  
• Banning firearms with “thumbhole stocks” and “bullet buttons” to address attempts to “work around” prior bans.
  

Bans large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.

Protects legitimate hunters and the rights of existing gun owners by:

• Grandfathering weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment;
  
• Exempting over 900 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes; and
  
• Exempting antique, manually-operated, and permanently disabled weapons.
  

Requires that grandfathered weapons be registered under the National Firearms Act, to include:

• Background check of owner and any transferee;
  
• Type and serial number of the firearm;
  
• Positive identification, including photograph and fingerprint;
  
• Certification from local law enforcement of identity and that possession would not violate State or local law; and
  
• Dedicated funding for ATF to implement registration.
  

Critics argue the asssault weapons ban in 1994 did no good. Also regardless of political orientation some of the legislation scares me. Especially the forfeiture of existing assault weapons firearms upon death --- to the government (would not be passed down to heirs). Why does that scare the hell out of me? So the government can take weapons from us when we die and turn right around and ship them to South America, Guatemala or Columbia so that more people can be killed? Seems a little Big Brother-esque.

The AR-15 is an assault rifle according to Feinstein's new legislation. From 1995 through 2011 the number of AR-15's manufactered (out of demand) rose by over 2.5 million. During the same period, the nation's murder rate fell 48 percent.

What say you about this legislation?