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House Democrats Ask Obama to Expand Rifle Ban

Friday, January 29, 2016

House Democrats Ask Obama to Expand Rifle Ban

On January 11, approximately 90 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter to President Barack Obama, asking him to use his executive authority to tighten restrictions on the importation of detachable-magazine, semi-automatic rifles.

Back in 1989, ATF reversed its interpretation of federal law to ban the importation of 43 makes and models of rifles functionally identical to the U.S.-made AR-15 and Springfield Armory M1A. The targeted rifles, which ATF had approved for importation for several years, included, but was not limited to, the semi-automatic AK-47, FN-FAL, FN-FNC, Steyr AUG, HK 91/93/94, Galil AR/ARM and Beretta AR-70.

ATF banned the rifles because they had external attachments such as flash suppressors and bayonet lugs. It rationalized its decision by saying, indefensibly, that “sporting purposes” didn’t include “combat-type competitions” or recreational target shooting. Furthermore, while admitting that “organized marksmanship competition” was a sporting purpose, ATF failed to acknowledge that the M1A, then the rifle most commonly used in the most organized marksmanship competitions in the country, the annual National Rifle Matches and NRA National Rifle Championships, is a detachable-magazine semi-automatic equipped with a flash suppressor and a bayonet lug. In 1998, ATF tightened its ban to include any semi-automatic rifle capable of using a detachable magazine that held more than 10 rounds.

ATF’s importation bans and President Bill Clinton’s “assault weapon ban” of 1994-2004, if anything, inspired Americans to accelerate their acquisition of detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles. Whereas Americans owned perhaps 100,000 AR-15s when gun control supporters starting campaigning against “assault weapons” in 1989, today the number is over eight million. And growing every time gun control supporters make noises about banning them.  Stay tuned.


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Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

News  

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

On Tuesday, Joe Biden issued an executive order on gun control that could accurately be described as a mile wide and an inch deep.

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

At least one of the joyless scolds that predominate in gun control circles thinks they’ve stumbled onto a novel anti-gun tactic. According to Colorado Newsline Editor Quentin Young, gun control supporters should try to shame gun ...

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

Texans are paying for so-called “Red Flag” gun confiscation orders in New York. North Carolinians are bankrolling Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in New Jersey. Louisianans are footing the bill for gun confiscation orders in Maryland.

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

Friday, March 17, 2023

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

On March 23rd, at 8:00AM, the Senate Committee on Law & Justice will hear House Bill 1240, a comprehensive gun ban bill, and House Bill 1143, to impose a waiting period and training mandate for acquiring ...

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 11-6 to approve Senate Bill 150, constitutional carry, with an amendment aligning the language with the House’s version. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Today, the Senate passed anti-gun bill packages to criminalize private transfers, require firearms be made unavailable for self-defense, and allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended without due process. They will now move to the House for further ...

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Three major anti-gun bills still remain active in the Legislature, while others are likely defeated for the session. The NRA provided testimony and strong, united opposition to these bills throughout the legislative process thus far.

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

The New Mexico Legislature wrapped up at noon on Saturday, March 18.  Below is a list of gun control bills which passed and extreme anti-gun legislation which NRA-ILA worked to defeat with pro-Second Amendment lawmakers, members of the firearms ...

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted 17-6 to advance House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill. It will now go to the House floor for debate.

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.