Stick to your guns, vigorously oppose law's renewal

By Brent Wheat, For the Journal and Courier

Our beloved President Clinton was an important cheerleader for the law he signed on Sept. 13, 1994, banning assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines. The law had a 10-year sunset provision and, using math that even a gun writer could understand, the law expires this year.

With the pending demise of the ban, two laws were introduced into Congress on May 8 that would not only renew the Clinton prohibition but also expand and make it permanent. H.R. 2038 was introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) while companion bill S. 1034 was introduced into the Senate by original ban authors Sen. (then-Rep) Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.).

You might remember the lovely Sen. Feinstein, who told 60 Minutes on Dec. 5, 1995, "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."

At least she called me "Mr. America."

The bills should anger hunters and firearms enthusiasts not only because what they contain but also because they actually stand a chance (albeit slim) of becoming law while riding on the backs of legislative leftovers from the Clinton era.

Some of the provisions of the two bills include banning all semi-automatic shotguns, banning all detachable magazine semi-automatic rifles, requiring manufacturers to report the names of their dealers and dealers to report all guns and parts in stock. The bill would also outlaw all private gun and parts sales. The Clinton law specifically banned 19 firearms while the new law would ban 65.

Therefore, your Remington 1187 or Browning Auto 5 will be illegal. Please turn them in for destruction at the nearest police station or face federal felony charges

Your Mini 14 or even the ordinary .22 autoloader behind the seat of your pickup truck must be turned in for processing.

Gun shows would be a distant memory and the simple act of giving your favorite old pump shotgun to your grandson would be illegal unless the transfer was consummated at the local gun store. Hopefully the gun would never break because junior would be forced to purchase a federally licensed firing pin.

Forget owning any type of military weapon for collecting purposes. That old Japanese rifle that Uncle Jim brought home from the big war would be illegal. It has a bayonet lug, you know.

I think you get the picture.

There are several things you can do. Joining the NRA would be a good first step. They are not quite so strident as a few years ago and membership continues to grow. You might also check out their Web site on the subject, www.clintongunban.com.

Afterward, make sure to contact your U.S. Senator and Representative. If you are unsure to whom your comments should be directed, the above Web site includes links to find your particular lot of elected officials. Simply send them a note expressing your dismay for these two bills.

Otherwise, the only persons being heard on the subject are the strident anti-gun lobbyists and their clueless Hollywood celebrity friends. Make this issue your personal challenge for today. Convince a friend or two if possible.

Wheat, based in Lebanon, writes a weekly outdoors column. He may be reached via e-mail at: btwheat@wildindiana.com.