Feinstein Introduces 2013 Assault Weapons Ban: ‘Dry Up Supply of these Weapons’ (VIDEO)

Today, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) had her day in the sun, so to speak.

At a morning press conference, the longtime pro-gun control advocate introduced her comprehensive ban on assault weapons, conveniently titled: Assault Weapons Ban of 2013.

An expanded version of her 1994 law, which expired in 2004, this 2.0 version includes a ban on high-capacity ammunition feeding devices (mags that hold more than 10 rounds) and 158 military-style ‘assault’ weapons (see list below).

With a backdrop of law enforcement, doctors, clergy, and gun violence victims, Sen. Feinstein articulated the details and objectives of this wide-reaching gun ban.

“We will prohibit 158 specifically named military-style firearms,” said the Democratic senator.  “Our bill also prohibits other semi-automatic rifles, hand guns and shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine, and have one military characteristic.”

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 has two principal goals:

  • First, the bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer and importation of 157 of the most commonly-owned military-style assault weapons. It also bans an additional group of assault weapons that can accept a detachable ammunition magazine and have one or more military characteristics.
  • Second, the bill bans large-capacity magazines and other ammunition feeding devices that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. These devices allow shooters to fire numerous rounds in rapid succession without having to stop and reload.

“The bill prevents and prohibits such specific loopholes as the slide iron stock,” she continued, also mentioning other innocuous features such as thumbhole stocks and bullet buttons. “These are all modifications that make it easy for manufacturers to evade the law.”

“The bill prohibits semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than ten rounds. A ban on importation of assault weapons and large capacity magazines” and the “Elimination of the ten-year sunset.”

Feinstein then pivoted, noting the exclusions under the new AWB, emphasizing the number of firearms exempted.

“It will not affect hunting or sporting firearms. Instead, the bill protects hunters and sportsmen by protecting 2,200 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes.”

She also made sure to remind the public that her bill is not confiscatory, that existing firearms would not be rounded up and taken by jackbooted government henchmen.

“Finally, the bill subjects existing or grandfathered weapons to a background check in the event the weapon is sold or transferred, so we have tried to learn from the bill. We have tried to recognize legal hunting rights. We have tried to recognize legal defense rights. We have tried to recognize the right of a citizen to legally possess a weapon.  No weapon is taken from anyone. The purpose is to dry up the supply of these weapons over time.”

Other key provisions in the bill:

  • Requires background checks on all future transfers of assault weapons covered by the legislation, including sale, trade and gift;
  • Requires that grandfathered assault weapons be stored safely using a secure gun storage or safety device in order to keep them away from prohibited persons; and
  • Prohibits the sale or transfer of high-capacity ammunition feeding devices currently in existence.

Not surprisingly, the usual suspects are backing the bill: Sens. Durbin (D-IL), Schumer (D-NY), Blumenthal (D-CT) and Murphy (D-CT); Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Elizabeth Esty (D-CT).

Also, one can – of course – add both the president and the vice president to that list.  In fact, on Thursday, during an online discussion conducted by Google, Vice President Joe Biden explained why he supports a ban on ‘assault’ weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“It’s not about keeping bad guns out of the hands of good people,” Biden said. “It’s about keeping all guns out of the hands of bad people.”

Meanwhile, the NRA released this statement, soundly condemning Feinstein’s proposal:

Senator Feinstein has been trying to ban guns from law-abiding citizens for decades. It’s disappointing but not surprising that she is once again focused on curtailing the Constitution instead of prosecuting criminals or fixing our broken mental health system. The American people know gun bans do not work and we are confident Congress will reject Senator Feinstein’s wrong-headed approach.

Rarely does the NRA speak euphemistically, but “wrong-headed” might be putting it kindly.

In any event, and more importantly, everyone acknowledges, including Feinstein, that the likelihood of this ban passing through both chambers of Congress is slim to none.

When asked about the 2013 AWB’s prospects of being signed into law, Feinstein said it was “really an uphill road,” adding, “If anyone asks if we can win this, the answer is we don’t know, because it’s really uphill.”

Yet despite it’s almost “dead in the water” status, gun owners need to continue to tell their elected officials what they think about Ms. Feinstein and her AWB.

To learn more about the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 and what it includes, you can visit Feinstein’s website, in addition to listing key points of the bill, there is a rather detailed summary.

List of banned guns:

Rifles: All AK types, including the following: AK, AK47, AK47S, AK–74, AKM, AKS, ARM, MAK90, MISR, NHM90, NHM91, Rock River Arms LAR–47, SA85, SA93, Vector Arms AK–47, VEPR, WASR–10, and WUM, IZHMASH Saiga AK, MAADI AK47 and ARM, Norinco 56S, 56S2, 84S, and 86S, Poly Technologies AK47 and AKS; All AR types, including the following: AR–10, AR–15, Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, Armalite M15–T, Barrett REC7, Beretta AR–70, Bushmaster ACR, Bushmaster Carbon 15, Bushmaster MOE series, Bushmaster XM15, Colt Match Target Rifles, DoubleStar AR rifles, DPMS Tactical Rifles, Heckler & Koch MR556, Olympic Arms, Remington R–15 rifles, Rock River Arms LAR–15, Sig Sauer SIG516 rifles, Smith & Wesson M&P15 Rifles, Stag Arms AR rifles, Sturm, Ruger & Co. SR556 rifles; Barrett M107A1; Barrett M82A1; Beretta CX4 Storm; Calico Liberty Series; CETME Sporter; Daewoo K–1, K–2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C; Fabrique Nationale/FN Herstal FAL, LAR, 22 FNC, 308 Match, L1A1 Sporter, PS90, SCAR, and FS2000; Feather Industries AT–9; Galil Model AR and Model ARM; Hi-Point Carbine; HK–91, HK–93, HK–94, HK–PSG–1 and HK USC; Kel-Tec Sub–2000, SU–16, and RFB; SIG AMT, SIG PE–57, Sig Sauer SG 550, and Sig Sauer SG 551; Springfield Armory SAR–48; Steyr AUG; Sturm, Ruger Mini-14 Tactical Rife M–14/20CF; All Thompson rifles, including the following: Thompson M1SB, Thompson T1100D, Thompson T150D, Thompson T1B, Thompson T1B100D, Thompson T1B50D, Thompson T1BSB, Thompson T1–C, Thompson T1D, Thompson T1SB, Thompson T5, Thompson T5100D, Thompson TM1, Thompson TM1C; UMAREX UZI Rifle; UZI Mini Carbine, UZI Model A Carbine, and UZI Model B Carbine; Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78; Vector Arms UZI Type; Weaver Arms Nighthawk; Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine.

Pistols: All AK–47 types, including the following: Centurion 39 AK pistol, Draco AK–47 pistol, HCR AK–47 pistol, IO Inc. Hellpup AK–47 pistol, Krinkov pistol, Mini Draco AK–47 pistol, Yugo Krebs Krink pistol; All AR–15 types, including the following: American Spirit AR–15 pistol, Bushmaster Carbon 15 pistol, DoubleStar Corporation AR pistol, DPMS AR–15 pistol, Olympic Arms AR–15 pistol, Rock River Arms LAR 15 pistol; Calico Liberty pistols; DSA SA58 PKP FAL pistol; Encom MP–9 and MP–45; Heckler & Koch model SP-89 pistol; Intratec AB–10, TEC–22 Scorpion, TEC–9, and TEC–DC9; Kel-Tec PLR 16 pistol; The following MAC types: MAC–10, MAC–11; Masterpiece Arms MPA A930 Mini Pistol, MPA460 Pistol, MPA Tactical Pistol, and MPA Mini Tactical Pistol; Military Armament Corp. Ingram M–11, Velocity Arms VMAC; Sig Sauer P556 pistol; Sites Spectre; All Thompson types, including the following: Thompson TA510D, Thompson TA5; All UZI types, including: Micro-UZI.

Shotguns: Franchi LAW–12 and SPAS 12; All IZHMASH Saiga 12 types, including the following:IZHMASH Saiga 12, IZHMASH Saiga 12S, IZHMASH Saiga 12S EXP–01, IZHMASH Saiga 12K, IZHMASH Saiga 12K–030, IZHMASH Saiga 12K–040 Taktika; Streetsweeper; Striker 12.

Belt-fed semiautomatic firearms: All belt-fed semiautomatic firearms including TNW M2HB.

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