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Zane Baddley
Prof. Kade Parry
Engl. 1010
11/18/2013
Assault Weapons Ban of 2013
The Events of the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Aurora, Colorado movie theater
shootings will be forever remembered as some of the worst massacres in American history.
Aurora, Colorado Movie Theater shooting happened on July 20, 2012. A lone gunman named
James E. Holmes killed 12 and wounded 58 people using a semi-automatic AR-15 (assault rifle)
with high capacity magazines. On December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, 20-year-old
Adam Lanza gunned down 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School while
using a semi-automatic AR-15 with a high capacity magazine as well.
These two massacres sparked national attention on the subject of banning assault rifles
again. The reason I say again is because in 1994 President Bill Clinton passed a bill that made
assault rifles and high capacity magazines illegal to own. In 2004 that bill expired, which made
owning assault rifles and high capacity magazines legal to own again. After the event of the
Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, President Obama announced that he would try to pass a bill to
congress to ban assault rifles and high capacity magazines.
This started a huge controversy issue on if the government can step in and strip the
American people of their constitutional right to bear arms per the second amendment. The
Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” (Second amendment,
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U.S. constitution). This means that we as a citizen of the United States have the right to bear
arms, but not just the right to bear arms, but it’s our God given right to own them.
To better understand the Assault Weapons Ban, we need to define what an assault rifle is.
“One side calls them “weapons of war” that have no place on America’s streets. The other side
says the term “assault weapons” is simply a menacing moniker designed to stir up anti-gun
passions,” (Josh Richman). People have been arguing for years on how to classify assault rifles.
You cannot ban something unless you classify it. So in the midst of all the controversy,
President Obama submitted the Assault Weapons Ban bill to congress, which contained terms or
definitions on how they classify assault weapons.
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 states:

All semi-automatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one
military feature: Pistol grip; forward grip; folding, telescoping, or detachable stock;
grenade launcher or rocket launcher; barrel shroud; or threaded barrel.

All semi-automatic rifles that pistol that can accept a detachable magazine and have at
least one military feature: threaded barrel; second pistol grip; barrel shroud; capacity to
accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip; or semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

All semi-automatic rifles and handguns that have a fixed magazine with the capacity to
accept more than 10 rounds.

All semi-automatic shotguns that have a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; pistol
grip; fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds; ability to accept a
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detachable magazine; forward grip; grenade launcher or rocket launcher; or shotgun with
a revolving cylinder.

All ammunition feeding devices (magazines, strips, and drums) capable of accepting
more the 10 rounds. (Assault Weapons Banned 2013)
There are obviously a lot of different point of views on if the Assault Weapons Ban
should be passed or rejected. Some individuals believe that by limiting the amount of guns on
the street will limit crime. Others may believe that it helps prevent a lot of crime and that it is
our constitutional right to bear arms. There are four main point of views that should be
considered in this controversy. The first point of view is President Obama’s. The second point
of view is the firearm dealers. Third, the gun control advocates point of view, and the fourth
point of view is the National Rifle Association, otherwise known as the (NRA).
In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, President Obama stated that
he pledged full force on putting more restrictions on gun control. President Obama clearly states
that he is not necessarily against owning firearms but limiting the amount of certain military
style weapons. He believes that by tighter gun control laws such as the Assault Weapons Ban
and getting those types of guns off the streets will limit crime and people getting killed.
President Obama states, “Every day we wait to do something about it, even more are stolen from
our lives by bullet from a gun,” (Wall Street Journal).
This controversial issue brings big concern for thousands for firearm dealers around the
United States. There are over 129,000 federally licensed dealers in the United States and
growing (ABC News). More than 85% of that 129,000 sell some sort of an assault weapon or
magazine. Firearms dealers fear that if the assault weapon ban passes, it will have a huge effect
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on major businesses such as, cabalas, bass pro shop, sportsman’s warehouse, and big five
sporting goods. Also, a lot of the small local businesses will be greatly affected. Most firearms
dealers rely on those kinds of weapons to keep the business profitable. The majority of small
gun shop owners are worried that they will lose their businesses, which they worked so hard for.
These local firearms dealers help support the local economy, and are essential to help the local
economy to continue to grow.
In addition to President Obama’s bill to congress for the ban of assault weapons, he
created a large-scale panic for gun enthusiast. Citizens were going out buying assault weapons,
30 round magazines, and ammo, in case the Assault Weapons Ban passed. In an article by Tony
Rizzo he states, “In the four years since Barack Obama was first elected president in November
2008, an estimated 67 million firearms have been purchased in the United states. That’s more
than were sold in almost seven years before his first election.” By president Obama trying to
restrict gun control laws, he is actually causing more people to go out and buy them.
Gun Control advocates have been around since the invention of the gun. There is always
somebody who has a different point of view or belief on a certain subject matter. In this
controversial issue of the Assault Weapons Ban, those individuals who are against guns are
called gun control advocates. In the recent event of the Sandy Hook Elementary School
shooting, gun control advocates have been taking a big stand on gun control. They believe that
taking guns off the street will prevent crimes. While pro-gun advocates argue that someone is
less likely to get mugged or murdered if that individual is carrying a gun, vs. someone with no
weapon at all. Some of the arguments that gun control advocates are making are: more guns
equal more homicides, banning guns saves lives, most massacres utilize legal weapons, and
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assault weapons aren’t for sport (Morris M).
The NRA otherwise known as the National Rifle Association is a powerhouse when it
comes to gun rights. “Today [the NRA] is arguably the most powerful lobbying organization in
the nation’s capital and certainly one of the most feared. There is no single secret to its success,
but what liberals loathe about the NRA is a key part of its power. These are the people who say
no. They are absolutists in their interpretation of the Second Amendment. The NRA learned
that controversy isn’t a problem but rather, in many cases, a solution, a motivator, a recruitment
tool, an inspiration.” The NRA is four million members strong, and counting. In the recent
wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, they NRA grew by over 100,000. As you can see, the NRA is
one of the biggest obstacles for gun control advocates to overcome. They have prided
themselves on being a firm believer in the second amendment; this is one of their biggest
argument points. They believe that by passing the Assault Weapons Ban, it interferes with the
second amendment and our right to bear arms.
I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. People are
obviously raised in different cultures and belief in America. I was raised around guns my whole
life. I was taught to respect guns and know how to properly use them. I have many AR-15’s and
I have adopted them into my life. I believe that they are used as weapons of war, but there are
also many other different uses for them. I am a competition shooter, and have used AR-15’s in
my competitions before. They are lightweight, easy to maneuver, easy to operate, very versatile
and the recoil is very minimal. All these factors make one great rifle for competition shooting. I
love to varmint hunt and these rifles are perfect for that. The AR-15 is featured in the Nato 5.56
/. 223 round. These bullets are lightweight, with a very high velocity, and it produces a good
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amount of knock down power. Most people think guns kill people. It’s not the gun that kills
people, but rather than the hand the gun is in. I also believe that more guns in the right hands
will help prevent crime. It is my right to own an assault rifle and for me, not the government, to
justify whether it is sufficient enough to protect my life, property, and liberty.
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References
Date, Jack, Pierre Thomas, and Jason Ryan. "Guns in America, a Statistical Look." ABC News
(2013): n. pag. Web. <abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/08/guns-in-america-astatistical-look/>.
Feinstein, Dianne. "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013." (2013): n. pag. Web.
<http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/assault-weapons-ban-summary>. Sirs.
Nov. 2013.
M, Morris. "10 Arguments for Gun Control." Listverse (2013): n. pag. Web.
<http://listverse.com/2013/04/21/10-arguments-for-gun-control/>.
Nicas, Jack, and Joe Palazzolo. "Pro-Gun Laws Gain Ground." The Wall Street Journal (2013):
n. pag. Web.
<http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB100014241278873248836045783988436532644
74>. Sirs. Nov. 2013.
Richman, Josh. "Assault Weapons: What Are They and Should They Be Banned?" San Jose
Mercury News (2013): n. pag. Web. Sirs. Nov. 2013.
Rizzo, Tony. "U.S. Gun Sales Hit a Record High since Obama's Re-election." McClatchyDC
(2013): n. pag. Web. <http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/01/11/179551/us-gun-saleshit-a-record-high.html>.
Second Amendment, U.S. constitution. Sirs. Nov. 2013.