Mike Bloombergs gun control group
outspent the NRA in Virginias election by multitudes hoping to clinch new seats and make unconstitutional inroads against the Second Amendment in the Old Dominion. Bloombergs plan unfortunately appears to have paid off: Senator Richard L. Saslaw Bloombergs bought-and-paid-for Democrat recently introduced legislation that would effectively outlaw most semiautomatic firearms in the state.
Bill SB 16 introduced by Saslaw on November 18 states It is unlawful for any person to import sell transfer manufacture purchase possess or transport an assault firearm." The bill greatly expands the states arbitrary definition of an assault firearm" to include most modern firearms.
A semi-automatic centerfire rifle with a fixed magazine with a capacity greater than 10 rounds or with a detachable magazine that has one of the following characteristics:
(i) a folding or telescoping stock; (ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the rifle; (iii) a thumbhole stock; (iv) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand; (v) a bayonet mount; (vi) a grenade launcher; (vii) a flare launcher; (viii) a silencer; (ix) a flash suppressor; (x) a muzzle brake; (xi) a muzzle compensator; (xii) a threaded barrel… or (xiii) any characteristic of like kind as enumerated in clauses (i) through (xii);
A semi-automatic centerfire pistol with a fixed magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds or with a detachable magazine that has one of the following characteristics:
(i) a folding or telescoping stock; (ii) a thumbhole stock; (iii) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand; (iv) the capacity to accept a magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip; (v) a shroud that is attached to or partially or completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the pistol with the non-trigger hand without being burned; (vi) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; (vii) a threaded barrel… or (viii) any characteristic of like kind as enumerated in clauses (i) through (vii);
A shotgun with a revolving cylinder or one of the following characteristics:
(i) a folding or telescoping stock (ii) a thumbhole stock (iii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the shotgun (iv) the ability to accept a detachable magazine (v) a fixed magazine capacity in excess of seven rounds or (vi) any characteristic of like kind as enumerated in clauses (i) through (v).
Reading through the dizzying amount of restrictions it quickly becomes apparent Bloombergs proxy war on the Second Amendment is alive and well. If passed SB 16 would effectively ban nearly all semiautomatic rifles shotguns and handguns and there are no provisions listed in the bill for grandfathering any currently-owned firearms. The bill also mandates that any violation of the new restrictions is punishable as a Class 6 felony or up to five years in prison. That means the moment the bill goes into effect tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of gun-owning Virginians would suddenly be classified as felons under threat of harsh imprisonment. But SB 16 isnt particularly worrying for all its explicit restrictions. Rather the bill is one of the worst gun control attempts in recent history because of what it doesnt say. The legislation repeatedly calls for the need to restrict any characteristics of like kind" features of a gun not defined in the bill. The sole purpose of this language is to cast an unconstitutionally vague net over any other firearms or gun parts the state Democrats find to be illegal by their standards without requiring them to obtain any knowledge or context.
In this writers opinion the language is a damning admission of Democratic ignorance: We want to ban other guns but were too uninformed to say which ones. Were using characteristics because we cant be bothered to understand how these guns work either." The consequences of the bill are immediately apparent. For example Rugers popular Precision Rimfire Rifle a target-shooting rifle chambered in .22 LR would be banned because it accepts a detachable box magazine. Any popular and commonly owned hunting shotguns with a pistol grip or thumbhole stock would be banned too. But it gets worse still. The legislation casts an even wider net which truly illustrates the unconstitutional reach Democrats are trying to garner: "Assault firearm includes any part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert modify or otherwise alter a firearm into an assault firearm or any combination of parts that may be readily assembled into an assault firearm." This language bans any gun part which could be used to make a gun into an assault weapon" by the bills definitions. That means owning nothing more than a pistol grip for an AR-15 would make you a felonious gun owner in Virginia. Imagine going to prison for up to five years because you own a piece of plastic shaped to fit your palm. The reason behind why Saslaw and state Dems included this blanket ban on accessories is readily apparent: Theyre afraid of the AR-15 the most popular and easily modifiable rifle sold in America today.
In fact the AR-15 could arguably be the most banned" gun by SB 16s language. After all nearly every component on a typical AR-15 meets the features test for being defined as an assault firearm": Telescoping stocks pistol grips 30-round box magazines muzzle devices forward-facing grips and threaded barrels mark the very construction of even a basic black rifle. This language also appears to ban the sale ownership and use of any type of gun-making kits and parts. The
80 lower receiver one of many firearm blanks not regulated but affirmed to be legal by the ATF can be used to build an AR-15 at home and was made popular in the past five years by amateur gunsmiths. Yet SB 16 says since the rifles individual parts (like the lower receiver) could be used to make an assault firearm it could be argued that the receiver blank is too considered an assault firearm. The same would apply to any type of
build kits and gunsmithing tool kits frequently purchased online which include firearm parts identified in the bill. If youre a pistol lover youll find little solace in this bill. SB 16 also bans the import sale and ownership of magazines that can hold 10 or more rounds punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Since nearly every semiautomatic pistol in existence has a magazine with such a capacity most handgun owners in Virginia would be labeled criminals too.
The bill currently resides at the Virginia House floor. If the bill passes it would likely provide a worrying boon for Bloombergs anti-gun White House campaign. Residents are strongly urged to
contact your state senators and local representatives and demand a vote against SB 16.
