May 29, 2012
By Kyle Wintersteen
Remember the good old days when we generally knew which politicians were bad on gun rights? Bill Clinton had foolishly convinced his colleagues that you could vote for a gun ban and remain in office or even win political favor. How wrong they turned out to be. In the wake of the Clinton "assault weapons" ban, a pro-gun revolution swept both houses of Congress. Even Clinton acknowledged the role of the NRA and gun owners in turning the tide, and he'd later credit them with Al Gore's defeat.
The anti-gunners had learned their lesson. Now they quite literally camouflage their views by calling themselves "lifelong hunters." They claim to respect the Second Amendment , but just want to impose a few "common sense restrictions" — you know, like bans on semi-auto rifles, right-to-carry permits and gun shows. They are cautious in their approach, and even when they push overtly anti-gun bills, they often do so quietly, in an attempt to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from those of us who value our rights.
But this piece exposes them. Here are the top seven anti-gun bills that you've never heard of.
S. 176: \"Common Sense Concealed Firearms Permit Act of 2011\" Sponsor: Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
'Common sense ' restrictions seems to be a buzzword for the anti-gun crowd these days. After all, who would oppose common sense? Problem is, they think banning guns is common sense. S. 176 would 'establish minimum standards ' for states that allow the carrying of concealed firearms. If you aren't familiar with Barbara Boxer's actions on gun control, trust us, you don't want her determining what hoops you must jump through to exercise a constitutional right.
To find out more about this bill, click here .
H.R. 308: 'Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act ' H.R. 4063: 'Guns-Free National Parks Act ' Sponsor: James McDermott (D-Wash.)
An amendment to the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 gave you the right to carry a firearm in a national park, provided you have a concealed-carry permit for the appropriate state. And why not, given that two-legged and four-legged predators can both be encountered in the wilderness. In fact, just days after the bill was signed into law, armed citizens in national parks used guns to fend off attacks by humans as well as wildlife . But Congressman McDermott believes he knows best for you and that you're safer unarmed. How about the congressman keeps his fantasy and we keep our Rugers?
To find out more about this bill, click here .
S. 35: 'Gun Show Background Check Act ' Sponsor: Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.)
OK, so you've probably heard about this one. The desire of anti-gun politicos to impose background checks on private sales at gun shows is no secret, but the true intent is. Forcing private citizens to conduct background checks would jeopardize gun shows' very existence. Lautenberg knows this, and he'd love to see it become reality.
To find out more about this bill, click here .
S. 436: 'Fix Gun Checks Act ' Sponsor: Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Not to be outdone by an anti-gun comrade, good ole' Schumer takes Lautenberg's gun show legislation even further — Schumer's bill would impose a background check on any gun transfer or sale for any purpose, public or private. Even if we pretend for a moment that bad guys get their guns from legitimate people who would actually comply with this law, the inconvenience and financial burden for gun owners and collectors would be unbearable.
To find out more about this bill, click here .
H.R. 227: 'Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act Sponsor: Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas)
We all want to keep children safe, but most gun owners believe they can best handle teaching their children gun safety without government interference. Jackson-Lee's bill would ban the possession of handguns and semi-auto rifles (which she of course refers to as 'assault rifles ' in her bill) by anyone under 21. In other words, a 20-year-old man could go to war for his country, but back home he wouldn't be allowed to exercise the rights he fought to defend. The bill would also impose rules regarding how you store firearms in your home, and prosecute your failure to comply.
To find out more about this bill, click here .
H. Res. 612: Repeal \"Stand Your Ground\" Sponsor: Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)
The Trayvon Martin trial hasn't even commenced yet, but already anti-gun politicians are exploiting the controversy surrounding his death to promote gun control. Cleaver's resolution (it wouldn't create any laws, but it would send a strong message) 'honors the life of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin ' and urges Florida and other states to repeal their Stand Your Ground Laws .
To find out more about this bill, click here .
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