Reply #26: Biden wasn't talking about machineguns. [View All]

No, Biden wasn't talking about machineguns; those have been tightly controlled since 1934 by Federal law (possession without Federal authorization is a 10-year felony). He was talking about civilian rifles, shotguns, and pistols, including several of the guns in our family's gun safe.

The AR-15 (non-automatic, .223 caliber) is the most popular civilian target rifle in Americaand dominates a lot of organized rifle competition in this country, and the SKS is the single most common centerfire rifle in the homes of Americans. Millions of people own Ruger mini-14's, Springfield M1A's, M1 carbines, and full-size 9mm pistols.

Here are some guns that H.R.1022 would ban as "assault weapons"; these are all civilian guns, not automatic weapons.


My Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, all-purpose farm/utility rifle, suitable for hunting small game up to coyote sized; caliber .223 Remington.


Benelli turkey hunting shotgun, 12-gauge.


Springfield M1A National Match, target rifle, caliber .308 Winchester.


M1 Garand, caliber .30-06, highly collectible and also sought after as a hunting and target rifle.


M1 carbine (1940's design), highly collectible.


Hammerli international target competition pistol, caliber .22LR.


My SAR-1 target/competition/utility rifle, shown in hunting configuration (no, this is not an AK-47).

H.R.1022 would also ban every civilian shotgun on the market that holds more than 5 shells; the AR-15, the most popular civilian centerfire target rifle in America; civilian rifles and pistols that hold more than 10 rounds; and civilian rifles and shotguns with handgrips that stick out

You're talking about affecting probably half of America's 80 million gun owners, around half of whom are Dems and indies. If you run the numbers, an "assault weapon" ban would affect about twice as many gun owners as a hunting ban would, since far more people own guns for defensive and target purposes than hunt.