gun ban would protect more than 2,200 firearms

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GUN_CONTROL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-02-16-08-24-55

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress' latest crack at a new assault weapons ban would protect more than 2,200 specific firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle that is nearly identical to one of the guns used in the bloodiest shootout in FBI history.

One model of that firearm, the Ruger .223 caliber Mini-14, is on the proposed list to be banned, while a different model of the same gun is on a list of exempted firearms in legislation the Senate is considering. The gun that would be protected from the ban has fixed physical features and can't be folded to be more compact. Yet the two firearms are equally deadly.

"What a joke," said former FBI agent John Hanlon, who survived the 1986 shootout in Miami. He was shot in the head, hand, groin and hip with a Ruger Mini-14 that had a folding stock. Two FBI agents died and five others were wounded.

Hanlon recalled lying on the street as brass bullet casings showered on him. He thought the shooter had an automatic weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

1. That is what you get

When you try and ban on scary looking features and not the weapon operating functions. To do what the gun control people want would be ban all semi-automatics with detachable magazines. Most rifles of the last 100 years. I doubt that would withstand challenge from the courts though.

[OceanEcosystem]

2. Doesn't look like it'll do much then. n/t.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. The gunhumpers will still demand more.

Nobody wins here.

[rgbecker]

4. I'm almost convinced that the NRA is right and we need to allow everybody...

to arm themselves to the teeth and let the best armed survive. I just need to hear one more good argument for doing nothing to try and stop people with guns from killing themselves and each other.

Anybody got any?