MoreBans.org

The first formal volley in what is projected to be an Obama Administration onslaught on the Second Amendment was fired when H.R. 45 was introduced into the new congress on January 6th by Representative Rush (D) Chicago, Illinois.  H.R. 45 is a bill that licenses owners of handguns and semi-automatic weapons with magazine wells.  The bill also registers handguns and semi-autos upon transfers, which must be conducted through a licensed dealer, with a few exceptions for family members and temporary loans to presumably licensed individuals.  (Interestingly enough, you seemingly could transfer a gun to an 18-year old offspring without a registered event, but you apparently could not transfer the same weapon to a spouse without going through a licensed dealer.  Who would of thunk it?)

In an Orwellian twist, a person under 18 may only effectively possess a firearm in an act of self-defense, after magically gaining access to the gun in violation of the law, having had no previous legally sanctioned training in the use of firearms.  (This looks a lot like the D.C. gun ban which requires either precognition of a break-in or criminal agreement to a “time out” that allows the gun owner to assemble/unlock a weapon for defensive use.)

One of the problems with registration is that it is often a precursor to confiscation.  It has happened in Britain, Australia, New York, Louisiana, and California, to name a few places where the rich and powerful decided to disarm “The Great Unwashed.”  As Dianne Feinstein wistfully remarked over her real desires regarding the Clinton “Assault Weapons” Ban, “If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them, Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in, I would have done it.”

Or, as “Conservative” Charles Krauthammer said in a Washington Post article about the Clinton Ban quoted on the site listed immediately above, “…Its only real justification is not to reduce crime but to desensitize the public to the regulation of weapons in preparation for their ultimate confiscation.” 

Probably the most ironic thing about registration schemes is that criminals can evidently not be forced to register or turn in their weapons under such a law.  In Haynes, the courts established that convicted felons, or other “prohibited persons,” who may not own a gun, can not be forced to incriminate themselves through registration.  These ploys only restrict the rights of, and provide inconvenience for, law-abiding citizens.

H.R. 45 requires the licensing of anyone who owns a handgun or semi-auto with a magazine well.  To obtain a five-year license, a citizen must submit a passport photo, and an application with a thumbprint.  Persons desiring a license must pass a test designed by the Attorney General.  (Think Reno Lieutenant Holder!  Ouch!)  The initial application requires a fee now capped at $25.  Of course, the requirements can always be tightened and the fees can be raised.

We might expect any misdemeanor conviction or even traffic offense to become a ban to ownership.  We might also expect psychiatric exams to be required to own an affected weapon.  In some places, gun ownership requires certification by prominent citizens as to the character of the applicant.  Understand!  The rich and powerful will always have recourse to armed force through preferential laws and bodyguards.  

This draconian proposal bans possession of any firearm by a person under 18.  The discrimination against youth all but guarantees the death of the shooting sports and the ownership of guns for self-defense from crime, tyranny and genocide.

The bill imposes increased restrictions and reporting requirements on already heavily-regulated licensed dealers.  It establishes a national registry of affected weapons.

H.R. 45 also makes it a federal crime to fail to report the theft of a firearm within 72 hours.  Understand!  The gun must be locked up to keep it away from anyone under 18.  The police would undoubtedly do detailed investigations of any thefts to see if they could bust the owner for improper storage.

Under this bill, the Attorney General will conduct studies to present to Congress regarding the use of handguns and semi-autos in crime.  We have here the typical Liberal positive feedback loop that goes something like this.  The restrictions don’t reduce crime, therefore, we need more restrictions.  Those restrictions don’t reduce crime, therefore, we need more restrictions.  Those restrictions don’t reduce crime, therefore…  Positive feedback loops are like addictive behavior, shrieking feedback in sound amplification systems, or computer viruses that overload hard drives.  They are ultimately destructive of the very systems that they were originally intended to benefit.

Understand!  Major research surveys of multiple studies (almost 400) done by the Centers for Disease Control, the National Academy of the Sciences and the Swiss-based Small Arms Survey indicate that there is no significant evidence that gun control reduces crime, or that gun ownership causes crime and violence.  (See my posts under the Category: “Research.”)

All in all, H.R. 45 gives the anti-gun organizations that supported Obama and the Democrats much of the substance of their wish lists for the new administration.  H.R. 45 infringes and lays the groundwork for much further infringement of the rights of American Citizens to armed self-defense against crime, tyranny, and genocide recognized by the Second Amendment and numerous state constitutions.  Contact your legislators to oppose this bill!  Tell your friends who value liberty that H.R. 45 jeopardizes their hard-won birthright of freedom!