It’s starting to become a tradition among anti-gun state legislators. In the wake of a horrible mass murder, they propose legislation that bans “assault weapons” rather than address the people who actually pull the trigger.
Right on cue, following the Orlando nightclub attack last year, Florida Democrats Carlos Guillermo-Smith and Linda Stewart have proposed legislation modeled after Connecticut’s “assault weapons” ban and the old, Clinton-era federal ban on semi-automatic sporting rifles.
The legislation displays the usual anti-gun ignorance of existing firearm laws, defining “assault weapon” as “any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semi-automatic, or burst fire at the option of the user,” according to a draft copy provided to the Orlando Sentinel. Fully automatic firearms are already heavily regulated, of course, and few civilians own them.
To cover for their lack of knowledge, the bill’s authors include scores of specific gun models, including the AK-47, the AR-15, and the Sig Sauer MCX.
The legislation also bans the sale of “large capacity magazines,” arbitrarily defined as those capable of loading more than seven rounds (Remember how well that seven-round ban worked out for the NY SAFE Act?).
While Smith and Stewart’s constituents might support the proposal, many are no doubt wondering why their legislators are wasting time on legislation that has no hope of passing the Republican-controlled Legislature. Both Smith and Stewart admitted to the Orlando Sentinel that the bill is a long shot, but they believe it is part of their “obligation as leaders.”
GOP lawmakers in Florida are moving in the opposite direction by proposing laws that expand gun rights rather than shrink them.
Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, has filed a bill aimed at reducing the number of gun-free zones by allowing guns on college campuses,
Republican Sen. Greg Steube also proposed legislation that would allow people with concealed-carry permits to bring guns onto college campuses but expands these rights to include government meetings and airport terminals (although not through security checkpoints).
Steube’s bill has become especially relevant in light of the recent shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport that left five people dead and six wounded. Unlike Smith and Stewart’s bill, which would disarm responsible gun owners, Steube’s bill would allow law-abiding citizens to carry their weapons into airport terminals to defend themselves against future attacks.
Sen. Stewart isn’t convinced. She doesn’t believe gun owners are capable of defending themselves or others.
“We’re trying to cut back on the violence,” she told the Orlando Sentinel. “To say, ‘in order to cut back, we’re going to have more’ — that doesn’t make sense.”
If passed, Smith and Stewart’s “assault weapons” ban takes effect July 1, 2018, but would not be applied to semi-automatic rifles already owned by Florida residents.
SORRY< I forgot two terms max in any one office EVER.
I would like to propose a ban on POLITICIANS being able to increase their own salaries without a vote of the people. And they all have to go on Medicare, for their health and retirement, no free mail. Travel commercial coach.
I wish this was not the case but I am sure it is. The Dems and gun controllers, such as Smith and Stewart, are out for vengeance and harassment and to deny Second Amendment rights as usual. They will say and do all they can to degrade those who believe in the Second Amendment. They cannot accept losing an election. This is already obvious on the TV fake news media. Their effort to ostracize believers of the Second Amendment will continue as though nothing has changed. Americans who understand and approve the Second Amendment should use every opportunity to criticize the biased news media and biased Dems. It is obvious that politicians such as Smith and Stewart are examples of people who believe in disarming the people who need to have a way of protecting themselves. The gun controllers will not slack off and will continue to do as they have done for many years and that is to use any means to win their gun control issue. Hopefully, Trump and the Republicans and the soon to be updated Supreme Court will definitively stop the obnoxious gun controllers. Regretfully, we need to emphatically continue the fight to stop the obnoxious biased fake news media and obnoxious biased gun control Dems and obnoxious biased gun control supporters and financiers such as Soros and Bloomberg. These people will never understand the reason for the Second Amendment.
The next thing you know Florida is going to be the next California. Please vote these ALT-LEFT-WING nut jobs out of office.
As a native “Florida boy”, we will burn this state to the ground before we “crackers” let it become another California.
Not a threatening anything…..just saying it won’t fly here.
…….Get the two Lefty, Liberals VOTED out of Office as soon as the next election!!,……..Buy the way, who in their right mind vote for this Spineless double crossers!!……
They don’t realize that every time they start with this nonsense that won’t go anywhere, inquiries go up, interest goes up, and sales go up. While I’m very careful and follow the rules carefully when selling a gun, it’s hard to measure the true number of weapons that are sold when this happens because many people sell off their guns to friends, family, etc, when a Politician opens his mouth to demand Gun Control. That’s one of the few things that crosses party lines, and that’s most gun owners don’t want unreasonable restrictions on their weapons. This is one of the reasons I like when they start this, both the sales increase, and more training, but also those Political Vanguards normally don’t do well from that point on, and it encourages voter change for the better. There are some very good and reasonable Democrats out there as well as other parties. And Politician change for gun owners, can also be a good thing.. We only have one Second Amendment, and that right has to be protected at any and all costs, and over the objections of those who would reduce, change, or destroy it!
It’s too bad that this legislator doesn’t believe in the Constitution of the United States of America, and has absolutely NO idea what defines an “Assault Weapon”, that being a FULLY automatic weapon, which without a SPECIAL permit under the NFA, CANNOT be owned by the public. I’ve owned many AR’s, Thompson’s, and M1A’s, but I’ve never owned an “Assault Weapon”!!! He quite obviously has NO clue about weapons in general, which makes him TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED to propose any legislation regarding firearms. He belongs in NY, IL, or CA, with the rest of the CONSTITUTION OBLIVIOUS IDIOTS. Semper Fi until I Die!!!!!
Right on, right on! We have the republican poster boy Ronnie Reagan to thank for taking away our RIGHTS regarding real “Assault Weapons”. Besides a weapon by definition is meant for assault, what the hell is a “Non-Assault Weapon” and what good would it be? Ooh Rah!
0:33 Angel Colon speaks…what a fitting name…LOL
Rep. Smith you sir are a Primma Donna for attention, do all Floridians a favor, move to California. Your ilk, and I mean anti gun liberals are not wanted in our great state. The configuration of a firearm has no affect on its lethality. Our state and any other state in the union needs more trained and responsible gun owners to protect our citizens.
as a CA resident, please dont send him here. We are not short on idiot legislators. Thank you. 🙂
Amen brother,
And I will kick in some cash to help pay to relocate ALL gun grabbers in FLA…….lol
Seems to me that this proposed law has one fatal flaw (other than the fact that gun control laws don’t work). The flaw being “any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semi-automatic, or burst fire at the option of the user,” since most of the assault look-alike firearms are NOT select fire–They’re semi-automatic ONLY. The user Doesn’t have the option and it seems to my way of thinking that someone with an ar-15 would be able to beat the law on that phrase alone.
Obligation as Leaders! Your (Obligation) as a so called Leader, is to protect the citizens you serve-not control the ones that put you in office. They should be in Bendoverland, as Tom said. A well armed republic is better than waiting for some one to come save you and your family!
How about a bill that requires the Feds to notify local law enforcement when they investigate someone for terrorist ties and let them go?
WHAT!!! Look man, don’t go injecting common sense into this emotional debate, what’s wrong with you??!?!?!
Since, by definition, law-abiding citizens don’t commit crime and “violence,” there should be no fear of “causing more violence” by allowing such civilized citizens to carry weapons. The libtard senators cannot fathom that…
Armalite might be upset having their AR 15 singled out but I don’t care because my Bushmaster wasn’t mentioned…
Stupid legislators think everything is an AR 15 when the name is owned by Armalite and is their proprietary name.
Florida democrat voter here – The Democrats will continue to lose State houses across the country until they drop their obsession with disarming Americans. I have bombarded the DNC both as a group and to each individual member I could identify saying essentially the same thing. Enforce existing laws and enact real penalties for illegal possession. Trying to convince them that these new laws only effect law abiding citizens carries no weight with them because they want to disarm ALL Americans, law abiding and criminal alike. I hate to be a single issue voter but this single issue is too important to me to ever vote for one of these universal gun ban proponents.
Pet peve alert: Affect not effect.
What irks me? peeve…NOT peve …LOL
Until we take our schools back over from the libtards, these idiots will keep reproducing. Once we take back the schools, and start teaching our kids good conservative values, we will have a chance at ensuring the future of a free America. We have to out number them and make sure they are not able to get power or make laws. The sickness of liberalism must be ended.
I suppose he just wants Floridians to enjoy the peace of mind and safety that Chicagoans enjoy with their so called, “assualt weapons ban.” These knee-jerk, liberals are like an angry child stung by a hornet, who takes after the hornets nest with a baseball bat. They seem unable to way facts, use logic, and reason.
I got an idea. Why don’t these idiots all move to Chicago, where they can enjoy the safety of a so called, assault weapons ban/gun free zone. Take Bloomburg, Soros, and the Clintons with you. You can form your own country, Bendoverland, and specialize in digging graves, and plowing for those who don’t.
P.S. They also seem unable to, “weigh” facts.
I thought it was write at midnight-thirty, guess knot. Thought I should correct it before the grammar fairies started swarming. I’ll try to do gooder.
“A pox upon me for an oafish lout, my lady”
In my opinion, they just use Orlando and other shootings to take the guns away from the people, no matter if firearms that have already been bought by residents are banned as well or not. I say this because we all know that disarmed people are more easy to control. Just remember how fast martial law can be declared, as we saw on 11th September 2002 where suddenly in New York the military was everywhere on the streets. Without an armed population, they would have an easy way to destroy democracy like this one day and won’t leave the streets a 2nd time.
The arguments are even the same, just like the ones from politicians like Attorney General Maura Healey from Massachusetts or from the Attorney General of Washington. Yet, may I remind these people that the gun shop in Florida, where Omar Mateen went in to buy bulk ammo and level 3 body armor, refused to sell this stuff to him and told him that they don’t have it and even contacted the FBI after his short but strange visit? So even the pro 2nd amendment guys, that sell these guns the politicians hunting for, were doing everything they can to prevent such a massacre. So, is taking certain guns away now the logical reason and a way to deal with the problem? Of course not and it will never be. Just look at countries outside of the USA. No one of them has a 2nd amendment, yet their terrorists have huge amounts of firearms and these things aren’t even just semi-automatic. So already this fact destroys the arguments that these politicians have and use every time.
Good thing that the republicans now rule America, so I personally do not think that in the future the politicians will get through with bans like that, yet surely, they will always try it again and again.
Politicians are a bunch off assholes who get in office for personal gain and make laws to suit their own personal needs. They could care less about the citizens they represent
Stupidity on the part of these politicians – you don’t disarm in the face of a threat – you meet it head on with superior firepower not bury your head in the sand and sing kumbaya or give peace a chance – didn’t work to well for John Lennon did it?
IDIOTS!
I think it is something they can show their constituents when asked “what are you doing?” It’s no big deal to them, as they have gated communities with armed guards. But I can understand needing to prove you are doing something when all you are really doing is warming a seat.
Just look at first world South Africa, gated communities, rampant gun crime, rape and murder, haves and have-nots no middle class, you want to know where we’re headed. The haves will have private armies to protect them.