The House of Representatives on Friday passed gun control legislation, House Resolution 1808, on a vote of 217-213. The bill will advance to the Senate, where it is predicted to languish.
HR 1808 would ban nearly all semiautomatic firearms and standard capacity magazines, including the AR-15, an example of which is shown above being auctioned off in Nikiski, Alaska. It would also ban the AK-47.
The bill would ban many types of striker-fired handguns, which are among the most commonly owned firearms today. Striker-fired pistols are easy to use: After a shooter manually racks the slide to chamber a round, each subsequent trigger pull fires a single round, then ejects the spent casing, and loads another round into the chamber, rearming the firing pin, so the next round can be shot.
The House measure calls these firearms “assault weapons.” Many hunters in Alaska use AR-15s for caribou. There are more than 24.4 million of these types of firearms are currently in the possession of American citizens, according to the firearm blog, The Reload.
“More than 4.5 million ARs. AKs, and similar rifles were bought by American civilians since the last time their circulation was estimated, according to a new report. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the gun industry’s trade group, found there are now at least 24,446,000 of the guns in civilian hands. It said 2.7 million were produced or imported in 2020 alone–the most for any year on record,” the writer said.
“This is a truly significant figure that demonstrates – again – the popularity of this commonly-owned style of rifle,” Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President, said in a statement to The Reload. “The firearm industry responds to market demand and this shows that during the elevated period of firearm sales that began in 2020, this particular style of rifle is the top choice for law-abiding citizens for hunting, recreational shooting and self-defense.”
This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic “assault weapon” or large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
The proposed ban does not apply to a firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action; permanently inoperable; is an antique; and the bill does not specify a brand or model by name.
The bill exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD:
After Congress approved similar legislation in 1994, Democrats lost control of the House and Senate. That ban expired in 2004, and polling data this year suggests the public would again be punishing to lawmakers, should the bill pass.
“The sweeping gun control law would also ban many triggers, and inhibit the use of lawfully acquired suppressors, another large part of our industry. For many of us, these arbitrary standards of what makes an ‘assault weapon’ would cover every item that we produce, guaranteeing the failure of our businesses,” said Gun Owners of America in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“A majority of all gun owners, especially the 14 million new gun owners who bought firearms to defend themselves during a period of unrest, would become owners of so-called “semiautomatic assault weapons” and thus be subject to undue and unconstitutional mandates from Congress.
“Time and time again, these commonly owned firearms have been used for self-defense. According to a 2021 National Firearms Survey from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business Research, there are an estimated 1.67 million defensive uses of a firearm each year. This means that firearms are at least as likely to be used to save lives than to take lives, if not many times more,” Gun Owners of America said in its letter. “As recognized by the federal government after the expiration of the Assault Weapon Ban of 1994, these laws do nothing to save lives or reduce crime. Instead, you will be limiting our customers’ ability to defend themselves adequately against criminals.”
Another bill working its way through the House is House Resolution 2814, which would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, and make firearm manufacturers responsible for crimes committed using the firearms they make and sell.
The bill is seen “as ridiculous as suing automotive manufacturers for pedestrian deaths based upon the malevolence of the drivers, rather than the deficiencies of the car’s design,” the Gun Owners of America Letter said.
The National Rifle Association was equally unimpressed: “Barely a month after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen, gun control advocates in Congress are spearheading an assault upon the freedoms and civil liberties of law-abiding Americans. The promises made in HR 1808 are nothing short of a lie based on willful ignorance of the disastrous 1994 Clinton Gun Ban which failed to produce any significant drop in crime. With more than 24 million potentially-banned firearms in common use, these draconian restrictions fall in blatant opposition to the Supreme Court’s rulings in Bruen, Caetano v. Massachusetts, and DC v. Heller. Their refusal to recognize this reality places everyone at risk. Any legitimate attempt to address our nation’s surge in violent crime cannot commence until anti-gun legislators step away from the radicals who defund our police departments, support prosecutors who refuse to prosecute dangerous criminals, and promote no cash bail policies that have turned once proud communities into a playground of lawlessness and fear.”
Time to buy your “striker-fired handgun” and semi-automatic rifle of your choice. Of course I would buy used and not be subject to registering (I mean background checked) with the “government” since those records will somehow be used against you to hunt you down and your semi-automatic rifle + “striker-fired handgun”
What did you expect! When the Republicans agreed to a backroom deal to exchange control of the populace through the Red Flag Laws with aborting babies…we will continue to see these bills come up. The most disturbing aspect though is that these Republicans chose to make any deal at all in respect to baby parts. May Yehoweh have mercy on your souls!
I’d flat hate to be law enforcement if this passes. Folks we have refused to use torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers for waaay to long.
I’m getting pretty sick and tired of explaining to my kids and grandkids why the constitution doesn’t mean what the words say. I hate that my dad still believes that you can’t challenge authority until you are authority. But we the people are the authority. We better start acting like it!
Conventional hunting guns are not being called into question. However, why in heaven’s name do people use AR-15s for hunting animals such as caribou? My father hunted but did not need military-style weaponry to bring home game. In Palmer, I ran across 2 men hunting moose with bows and arrows. Much more challenging method that respects both the animal and the hunter! Assault weapons do not prove hunting abilities, Alaska-style « toughness » or virility. They should be in the hands of the military ONLY.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to type and remove all doubt. A civilian legal AR platform firearm is not a military weapon; why didn’t you go the whole way with lefty meme about weapons of war. Neither you nor the communists, excuse me, Democrats in the HOR could define an assault weapon beyond a black gun that they’ve been taught not to like. You’re just mindlessly spouting leftist talking points.
Catherine, the reason these weapons should be in every American’s possession is exactly what we as a nation are currently going through and have been going through since 2020 or did you completely miss the cities burning and innocent people being hurt by the BLM and ANTIFA goons. Now we have a government that is purposely destroying our economy and attacking every right you have under the Constitution. The 2nd Amendment was not written to promote and protect hunting. It was written to protect the people from tyranny! How do you suppose “We the people” are going to protect ourselves with single bolt action rifles and bow and arrows? Please wake up!
No such thing as an assault weapon. The left are so hell bent on taking guns away they make up names for them. Have you ever fired a gun or rifle before Catherine?
SCOTUS will strike it down.
They won’t stop until they have them all. Post Constitutional America.
It’s so sad to see people who have nothing to love or worship in their ives aside from semi-automatic assault weapons.
It’s so sad to see stupid comments like this. It is exactly that Americans love their freedom that the 2nd Amendment was written. What is truly sad is people like you who would gladly hand that freedom over for a false promise.
It’s so sad to see people who have nothing to love or worship in their lives aside from semi-automatic assault weapons.
It’s sad to see a tired liberal try and pathetically fail to make a point.
It’s sadder to see how little you care about the erosion of the Constitution.
But you do you, boo.
They probably know this won’t pass but they are testing the waters. They won’t give up until law abiding citizens are stripped of their only means of protection. Cartels will pick up where lawful gun dealers leave off with our porous southern border the main entry point. They can bring them in with the Fentanyl.
Thanks God this bill will be DOA in the Senate….and this latest attempt to disarm millions of law abiding citizens of this nation will again fail..!!
How stupid and what a waste of time! All the Dems did was to put a few more nails in their majority coffin. This action will really galvanize the 2d amendment crowd to vote this fall. This law, if enacted would require tens of millions of law abiding gun owners to turn their semis and strikers over to the Govt? Or to destroy them? It would be unlawful to possess them so what would their options be? The bad guys, on the other hand, would still have these weapons and freely use them without worry about the “armed citizen” Good luck to the Govt in trying to enforce this law
If this becomes national law , there will be a lot of cold tight fingers having to be peeled off of triggers before the government gets them all! Amen to Freedom!
It is amazing, and deeply disturbing, how utterly determined evil leftists are relentless in their attempts to produce a disarmed and defenseless populace.
This House action is a prime example of the tyranny of strong, overbearing, central federal government. Our constitution leaves control of most matters (such as this) to the states. Its called state’s rights. If any state wants to over-regulate citizen’s’ lives (in a constitutional manner) then those citizens can choose to migrate to other states. On the other hand, when the federal government over-regulates our lives (either constitutionally or unconstitutionally) we are trapped. The Senate needs to stop this action.
All day long, it is the idiot behind the trigger that is the problem. The gun is a tool. Period. We need to ban all knives and box cutters and CARS too with the Lefts ideation that inanimate items can somehow be the problem. Stupid is as stupid does.
RisesUp, you are right as a matter of plain fact. However, we must admit that a semi-auto rifle makes it easier to mass-murder school children than a box-cutter. That said, if a 10-million school children are murdered with rifles next year, I would still be unwilling to forfeit any of my rights under the 2nd Amendment. Its a matter of principal. Why should I ever surrender rights because the fools running our schools fail to arm the occupants for protection? “Gun-free zones…” my a$$.
This was passed without ANY Alaskan Representation. Rest in Peace Honorable Don Young. They have already stolen 4 of my firearms. I will NOT comply. Government tyranny is here people.
Lol why would you use an ar15 to hunt? Seems like a rookie move….
I see that you’ve never been in rural Ak, say a village. Rural people tend to buy used military rifles for hunting, not Mark Vs. Reason is expense. Do you remember when you could buy 5 Russian SKS,s for under $500; they are everywhere. Go in any Indian Village. You will find a guitar, 30-30, and usually a 308 semi auto rifle in the corner of every cabin. 308 is plenty enough gun for moose and grizzly bear too.
Two Republicans made the deciding votes on this bill. Honestly, I believe it to be D.O.A. in the Senate.
“All laws repugnant to the Constitution are null and void.”
Since our lone Congressional Representative passed we Alaskans do not have representation as guaranteed by the constitution. Therefore, I do not recognize any legislation passed during the time I have not been represented
“Governments derive their power by the consent of the governed.”
Well good luck with that. Tough talk, and I’m LMAO.
Ummmm, NOPE!!! My firearms, my choice!!!
This is great. Now the effects from covid and inflation will start to materialize.
The margin of passage was very small, 217-214. If it weren’t for Ranked Choice requirements, Alaska would have had representation in Congress, and that probably would have been another No vote.
Fastest way to civil war is to take away civil liberties. Just saying.
Thank you, Ms. Downing, for this column. I have not yet studied this particular legislation, but I do know this much: if “we the people” should be disarmed (which will not happen with me, while I have breath), then any criminal madman or criminal agent of the People’s Republic of Can-Am-Exico (capital city, Chicago) who wields a revolver or a double-barreled shotgun will have the capability to carry out mass murder.
The nihilist-killers who appear too often in the street parade routes and the gun-free zones of our public spaces seem not to fear the commandments and judgments of God. The fear of God is no longer taught in the public schools and in most homes, and now is rarely taught in contemporary churches. Except for a wide-spread spiritual awakening we will not find help there.
We must turn to the criminal courts. Presently, the trials for mass murderers are typically delayed for several years – and the punishments are delayed, too, even for decades when the sentence is death – so that the nihilist-killers are apparently indifferent to the penalty for their crime. Much can be accomplished here. Concerned citizens must demand statutory measures that require the trial of a mass murderer to begin within 90 days of indictment, and that require a mandatory sentence of death by hanging to be be carried out within six months of conviction. An appeal to a higher court shall be submitted within 30 days of conviction, and the court of appeal shall be required to render its decision within 30 days of receipt of the case.
The majority of our current, career legislators will be reluctant to promote this manner of progressive (Teddy Roosevelt “progressive”) legislation, so a grassroots movement is needed. Retribution is what Moses required, and retribution works best when carried out sooner, rather than later. The present-day example of Singapore is entirely sufficient.
In other news, today the US Coast Guard requested additional funding due to an anticipated surge in “tragic boating accidents.”
From the time the words were placed on paper, this bill was unconstitutional and lawsuits will be forthcoming if the Senate is stupid enough to pass it. Make no mistake, the Dems know their time in power is short and their party is imploding and may never recovery from the tyranny they have unleashed on the American people. You will see every crazy bill you can imagine come from them and their leftist supporters. They know the American people are awake now and they can no longer hide behind the lies and the fake news. We are witnessing one of the grandest moments in American History, where corrupt politicians and bureaucrats decided to overthrow our government by stealing an election and ruining our economy on purpose to bring the people to their knees. Americans from all walks of life and from every corner of the nation are standing up and saying no more! We have had it with liars and deceivers and will place America First candidates in office that are not there to fill their pockets at our expense. Let every corrupt politician and corporate goon be placed on notice. Your time is coming, you had a chance to set things straight and do the right thing but you chose to attack innocent people, you chose to attack our kids and allowed an experimental drug that is destroying lives to be used on the people. You collaborated with Big Tech and Big Pharma against us and framed Americans at the D.C. rally so you could punish them for exhibiting their Constitutional right to Aire their grievances. You are the problem, not the good American people who just want to be free and live their lives in the pursuit of happiness watching their children grow up without a tyrant hovering over them. May justice come swiftly to you and your kind. Dear Father in heaven bring justice swiftly upon the evil in our land and reclaim the covenant you had with America, in Jesus name Amen!
Will you be surprised when “our” senator who wants to keep that role votes with the Democrats on this one.
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