United Liberty

We all knew it was coming.  Well, it’s here.  Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) continues her jihad against so-called “assault weapons” by introducing the bill she warned the world was coming earlier today.

The bill, as ugly as we expected, seeks to ban scores of firearms including all types of AK and AR pattern rifles.  A number of shotguns and pistols are also including in that list.  Of course, Feinstein and her fellow gun jihadists believe they’re fighting the good fight:

During the press event at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, the Democrats described these firearms as “dangerous military-style assault weapons.” The bill would also ban high-capacity ammunition feeding devices that can hold more than 10 rounds.

Feinstein said the country’s “weak” gun laws allow massacres like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occur.

“Getting this bill signed into law will be an uphill battle, and I recognize that — but it’s a battle worth having,” Feinstein said in literature handed to reporters at the Thursday event.

Feinstein is right that it’ll be an uphill battle for the bill.  However, Feinstein has to know just how little of a chance this bill has.

The bill will also essentially turn all currently possessed firearms into Class III weapons.  That is the same classification of guns as fully automatic machine guns.  Now, this will mean that those AK and AR pattern rifles are about to soar in value should a bill like this actually pass.

First, Sandy Hook was a tragic situation.  No one sane person disagrees.  However, Adam Lanza didn’t purchase a gun and commit a crime.  He illegally obtained his weapons. How does Feinstein think this will prevent future crimes?

The answer is, it won’t.  A madman’s rampage can not be prevented.  They just can’t be.  If you take away the guns, then he will follow Timothy McVeigh’s example and blow something up, or poison the school lunch, or Lord only knows what.  An insane person who wants to commit an atrocity will find a way to commit that atrocity.

Of course, as I said earlier, there is little chance of this bill going through as it stands.  Republicans still control the House of Representatives.  While I don’t trust them to view the Second Amendment as inviolate, I will say that I trust them to be as obstructive towards President Obama’s wishes as humanly possible.

If an assault weapon ban were to happen, it won’t be as Feinstein intends.  At best, you’re looking at a revamp of the Assault Weapon Ban of 1994.  Realistically, I doubt you’ll even see that.

You see, AWB 1994 cost the Democrats both chambers of Congress back in the day.  Even President Clinton admitted as much. There are plenty of Democrats who remember that.  Feinstein, not so much.  After all, representing San Francisco, Feinstein isn’t likely to feel the heat.  It’s not like she lives in a hotbed of gun rights activism.

However, a lot of Democrats represent rural districts.  Rural districts like their guns, after all.  Rural district democrats tend to also be members of the NRA, GOA, JPFO, and any other alphabet group that supports gun rights.  Those Democrats are highly unlikely to back Feinstein’s bill.

Republicans, on the other hand, aren’t exactly clamoring to back the bill.  The last thing the GOP can handle right now is caving on guns.  Their base, and even  libertarians and luke warm conservatives, aren’t thrilled with the fiscal cliff deal.  They see it as rolling over for Obama, and congressional republicans know that.  They’re not likely to roll over on this one.

Feinstein’s bill is scary.  By all means, fight it.  However, don’t lose any sleep over it.  It’s not likely to actually reach Obama’s desk.