Did President Obama convince anybody else to buy an "Assault weapon"?

[Tim01]

I am just curious? Yep. I am ashamed to admit I got into the panic buying.

Before he was elected he promised to reinstate and expand the AWB. I picked up an AR-15.
Then after his election he, and seemingly everybody in his cabinet, promised a new and expanded AWB. I picked up a Saiga box fed .308 semi-auto.

I'm glad he hasn't made good on these promises, I'm not complaining. I was just wondering if anybody else here did the same as I did. I never had these kind of rifles before this. And I probably never would have.

[old mark]

1. Actually, I sold a FAL that I had for a few years. Got cash to buy a Gibson guitar.

Still have my Chinese Norinco SKS and several bolt action rifles, but they have nothing to do with politicians-they are just for enjoyment.

I doubt anyone electable has the will to commit political suicide by actually attempting to confiscate weapons in the US. I read a lot of BS about this on RW talking forums on gun enthusiast sites. They are still waiting for the evil socialist Obama to make his first move....

fucking idiots.
mark

[Tim01]

5. We have already seen an "Assault Weapons Ban" under Clinton.

So it "could" happen again. But I think the first ban caused these rifles to become so wildly popular that it might be politically very dangerous to try it again. Still, I'd kick myself if I didn't get them when I could, then we did see a ban. The next ban might not have a sunset.

But I agree that confiscations are not remotely possible. Anybody suggesting that it is possible is a bit off the deep end.

[PavePusher]

13. "Anybody suggesting that it is possible is a bit off the deep end."

Appropos of no recent conversations 'round here, eh?

:spray: :rofl:

[old mark]

14. The "Ban" then was total nonsense, merely changed what accessories were legal

on imported guns. FWIW, that "ban" was started by George Bush the First-Clinton merely continued it and banned some Chinese weapons/ammo from import for some reason I still cannot fathom.
Republicans did the "Ban", Democrats get the blame...Familiar?

mark

[PavePusher]

16. Ummm, no, you have the timeline (and people) wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_Weapons_Ban

Edit: I make no claims that Bush-1 would have been against the AWB, note that Bush-2 said he'd sign it if renewed by Congress. Sigh.

[Tim01]

20. I think you're kind of mixed up on this one. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

24. The reason for the ban on the Chinese weapons was two-fold -

it made it easier to keep some AKs that could be converted to full auto out of the country, and it boosted the domestic weapons manufacturers' sales.

[X_Digger]

30. I always thought it was to punish china (trade imbalance, etc) n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

43. As I said - it hurt Chinese exports and boosted US manufacturers. nt

[benEzra]

53. Chinese AK's were as hard to convert as any other civilian AKM...

and the trade ban that ended Chinese AK imports ended ALL Chinese firearm and ammunition imports, not just civilian AK's. SKS's, Norinco 1911 clones, Norinco plinking ammunition, all banned by fiat. I remember back when you could pick up a Norinco 16" barreled SKS carbine (the so-called "paratrooper" model) for $79.95. Dang, I wish I had bought a couple then. They're probably $300 now.

If you're thinking of the earlier George H.W. Bush "assault weapon ban", that one didn't ban the import of Chinese AK's; it required that they be imported in "sporting" configuration. Thumbhole stocks rather than separate handgrips and a smooth-bottomed gas block, primarily.

FWIW, any gun easily converted to full auto is a full auto for the purposes of the National Firearms Act as amended by the Hughes Amendment to the McClure-Volkmer Act of 1986, and were already as tightly controlled as howitzers and hand grenades. The import ban had nothing to do with full-auto conversion and everything to do with hysteria about rifles with "that military look" (which basically boils down to "angular with stuff sticking out").

[old mark]

60. Ben E, it was total bullshit designed for feel good points for the stylish anti gun

liberals of the time. It accomplished absolutely NOTHING positive. I'm so glad I still have my old Chinese Army SKS sitting in my closet - it is a great rifle.


marl

[gorfle]

76. You nailed it.

Our country is awash with cheap Chinese products, everything from tooth brushes to mattresses.

If they entered the firearms market we'd be buying AR15 clones for $200 and cases of 7.62x39 for $50.

Can't have that, can we?

[cowman]

33. It wa

Pres. Clinton and the Dem congress that did the ban. Never could figure why they committed political suicide when the ban was a joke

[old mark]

42. To think all these years I have maligned poor President Bush-I feel ashamed...

But I'll probably get over it.

Yeah, I'm better now.

I really like my old beat up Chinese Norinco SKS, an ex-military rifle. I would not mind having another one.
Before the import ban they were available for about $80, sometimes with a case of ammo for under $100.Now they are $250 and up.

I was just out shooting it in the snow 2 weeks ago-the most reliable autoloading rifle ever made, IMO, even more so than the AK's.

mark

[DonP]

44. "the most reliable autoloading rifle ever made" Suh, them's fightin' words

When you say things like that You make my Garand cry.

No doubt, the Norinco's, like the AKs have been designed and built to be peasant proof, like my M-N 91-30, or the M44, designed so a recruit fresh from the communal farm can't lose their bayonet.

I wish they'd get around to lifting the import bans. OTOH my wife said it helps keep our checkbook in balance.

[old mark]

45. I had a Garand years ago, and (heresy) I like the SKS better - but I can't

debate this now...I'm about to win a handgun in an online auction..


mark

[Pullo]

32. Since "assault weapons" are now the most popular rifles ......

I think any new AWB wouldn't last as they definately fall under the "in common use" standard set by Heller, so the courts would be incline to toss it.

But the biggest obstacle for a new ban is polititical. That and there is no logical basis for reviving that failed law.

[Glassunion]

52. Off the topic...

What Gibson did you pick up?

I'm also a "guitar loving" paranoid "guitar nut". I have a 1993 Gibson LP custom. I'm just waiting for the "grabbers" to make them illegal.

I have made some customizations to it, mostly cosmetic, but I'm sure that now makes it an "assault guitar".

It's not guitars that make music, it's the player.

[randr]

2. I do not recall any of these "promises" Enlighten me

Maybe the DNC was highly invested in the arms industry and that is how they financed the campaign?
Just kidding

[LiberalFighter]

3. Didn't you know the DNC profits on the fears of the Republicans?

[Tim01]

7. Dude, seriously? It was on his agenda on his website.

Along with what was said by Holder, Clinton, Kerry, I can't remember everybody.

[randr]

11. I went to the web site repeatedly

and never saw anything in the form of a "promise". There was discussion about whether to re institute the ban on assault weapons, but no promise to anyone that that would be an agenda.
I think we are dealing with a myth that went viral.

[Tim01]

18. No, it is no myth. It was under the crime in cities section.

He took it down a while back. There were about a hundred threads here on this forum about it.

I'll see if I can find it for you, if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

[X_Digger]

28. Here ya go, Tim..

http://change.gov/agenda/urbanpolicy_agenda/

"Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent."

The same statement appeared on whitehouse.gov until May '09 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x220421

[Tim01]

36. Thanks! nt

[Tim01]

23. Just a quick link here. "Obama to Seek New Assault Weapons Ban"

"As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons," Holder told reporters.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6960824&page=1

This isn't exactly what I was talking about, I'll look for it later.

[cowman]

34. Oh it

was there but it was taken off after the firestorm the Rethugs caused during Obama's campaign. I remember when Holder said they wanted to re-intitute the ban and make it permanent, Nancy Pelosi couldn't get to the microphone fast enough to tell Holder that the congress made the laws not the attorney general and that any gun control laws were not in the future. She remembers what happened last time

[Tim01]

38. Post # 28. nt

[AtheistCrusader]

47. Not a discussion, a pledge to re-introduce the former assault weapons ban.

It was there. It may not be now, since Change.Org is no longer the same site. But it was absolutely there. You can probably search on it here in the gungeon, because the content was copy/pasted here several times.

[Deep13]

4. Sort of. I wanted a target rifle...

...and went with an AR15 just because I figured I ought to get one while available. I decided I did not like it and sold it to buy a bolt-action model. I did eventually buy an AR carbine because they are fun to shoot. Had nothing to do with Obama. Also bought a few extra Beretta magazines.

[slackmaster]

8. You can always put a target upper on your AR-15

For those who aren't familiar with the AR-15, the lower receiver assembly is legally the firearm. The upper assembly, which includes the barrel and sights, is just parts. Changing an upper receiver involves just two captive pins. It takes just a few seconds. That's the beauty of the system.

[Deep13]

17. Yeah, I could, but I prefer my Savage model 12.

The AR carbine is to replace my Beretta carbine. The AR is cheaper to shoot indoors in winter with a .22 kit and with 5.56 more accurate than 9mm at the 50 and 100 yd. ranges in warmer weather.

[Callisto32]

39. MMMMM, Modularity.

Want a new stock? Done.
Want a new barrel? Done.
Want a new bolt carrier? Done.

Yessir, modularity.

[slackmaster]

6. No, but the state of California did

I own multiple registered "AWs" and a .50 BMG rifle, just because the Caliban told me I couldn't get them after certain dates.

I haven't indulged in any panic buying. I stocked up on ammunition when it was available and reasonably priced. I have lots of it. Tens of thousands of rounds.

The last four firearms I have purchased are black powder weapons, which are exempt from all state and federal gun laws.

[Tim01]

9. Aw, you have a .50?

I shot a Berrett here at my house once. LOUD. A friend was doing barrel break-in.

I don't think I could use that expensive thing in my deer stand.;)

[slackmaster]

12. Yes, an ArmaLite AR-50. I mounted it on a German machine gun tripod.

I do a little machine work for fun. Figuring out how to machine a couple of blocks of steel into a Lafette-type mounting system without any plans was a nice little challenge.

The AR-50 receiver has a T-slot along the bottom side. It was very convenient for this project.

This photo was taken at a machine gun shoot in Nevada. The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in the background is the real thing.

http://members.cox.net/slack/images/AR-50_+_slack.jpg

[Callisto32]

41. Yikes, talk about a benchrest rifle.

Is that an M2 stand, or a 1919? Or something homebrewed? Or whatever?

[slackmaster]

51. It's a German tripod made for the MG-42

It absorbs the recoil quite nicely.

[PavePusher]

10. I've been saving for some since well before Pres. Obama.

I'm one of those creepy folks who don't really trust any politician, especially one who wants to get re-elected. Go figure...

[LiberalFighter]

15. Personally, I wouldn't want an "assault weapon".

I want a good portable laser gun able to take apart Toyotas piece by piece, perforate the homes of Republican Governors and Senators and a few select mealy mouth Representatives, singe the circuitry of televisions in business places that have FOX for their news, melt the zippers of their pants, heat up their cell phones.

[beevul]

63. Hahahaha.

"I want a good portable laser gun able to take apart Toyotas piece by piece"



What with all the hubbub lately, you might be able be able to get paid to do that, too.

:rofl:

Thanks for the laugh, I needed one just now.

[Katya Mullethov]

79. Quite the dog and pony show isnt it ?

I think I'm gonna rent "Tucker" on the way home tonight .

[safeinOhio]

19. The gun store was pretty crowded back then

so I sold an old Sears 12 ga goose gun and Winchester Model 94 on consignment. Made a good profit, laughing all the way to the bank. Never worried for a second that anyone would take away any of my weapons or make it so I could not buy anything I had ever thought of buying. Not really into military type guns. I do like 22 longs and mags. Fun and cheap to shoot. Other than a couple of hunting shotguns the biggest cal. I have is a 9mm Glock. I do have a chance to hunt northern Michigan this year, so I may buy back an old WWl 30.06 I sold to a friend 10 years ago.

I'm just not too worried about insurrection type stuff, I'll just keep my head down.

[jeepnstein]

21. Kind of...

I went to a meeting where the topic of discussion was how certain state-level politicians should position themselves in the upcoming Presidential primary. I was invited to provide an analysis of the financial statements of the candidates. My conclusion was that Obama was unbeatable and that the smart money was with jumping on the wagon early. That opinion was not exactly warmly embraced by some in attendance.

On the way home I stopped by to check on a couple of magazines for my duty weapon. It dawned on me that there was going to be a run for AR's and mags while I was standing there. The store owner was shocked when I told them why I was going ahead and getting an AR15 while I was in the store. A few months later the couldn't keep the things on the shelves. When I told the owners of the store why I was buying it they looked at me as if I had just arrived from outer space.

My initial suspicion about Obama was that he would veer to the center to govern when elected President. One way for him to do this would be to take a hands off approach to the 2nd Amendment. In light of Heller and the upcoming Chicago case it only made sense for him to avoid the hornet's nest. I guessed that one right, too. After some of his people got boxed around a bit for opening their mouths on the subject his administration has been remarkably silent on the topic. He's a very smart politician. That's what I like about him.

[Tim01]

26. It's guys like you who turned a profit on guys like me.

;-)
Oh, well. I keep my guns anyhow. So price isn't so important.

[jeepnstein]

46. I didn't make a dime.

The AR is still in my safe and probably always will be.

[X_Digger]

22. Yup, built two AR-15 pistols

I may build another in 9mm, just for fun.

[oneshooter]

58. Ihave never built an AR pistol

But,I have built 7 rifles and have lowers and parts to build 3 more. Just lacking the time!!

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[katandmoon]

25. No, I don't live in the kind of fear that allows the NRA to manipulate you into buying an arsenal

[Tim01]

27. Are you pretty? You sound like you're pretty.nt

[PavePusher]

31. ROFLMAO!!!

:spray: :rofl:

[AtheistCrusader]

48. Excuse me, you seem to have misspelled Democratic Party Platform

since that, and at the time, Change.Gov, drove those sales by talking favorably about renewing the 1994 AWB. All the NRA had to do was point out to people that 'hey look what they just said', and you heard the pitter-patter of feet off to the gun stores.

Annoying because it made some things I wanted anwyay prohibitively expensive.

[friendly_iconoclast]

54. So what kind of fear *do* you live in?

Inquiring minds want to know...

[oneshooter]

59. Broken nail? Bad Hair day? Cell phone disconnect?

Inquiring people want to know!!!

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[proteus_lives]

70. But yet you believe in the fear that makes you want to control other people.

Strange......

[cowman]

29. Yup

picked up a Valmet chambered in .223, another AR-15 chambered in 7.62x39, and a Mini 14. I know that he has backed way the hell off gun control but you just never know what will happen down the road and besides, these are really cool rifles that will retain their value or go up in value

[Don Caballero]

35. Unfortunately it looks as though our President will not propose

stricter gun control measures. One of the few problems I have had with him thus far.

[Tim01]

37. "One of the few problems I have had with him thus far." Seriously?

You're pretty much good, except the gun issue?

[cowman]

40. Looks like

your pipe dream of him bringing in foreign troops to disarm law abiding citizens is just not going to happen at any time in the future.

[AtheistCrusader]

49. As the defacto head of the Democratic Party, he has a responsibility to help keep Dem's in Office.

And that's exactly what he's doing, because no issue is a total loser like more gun control.

[proteus_lives]

69. One of the ways Obama has impressed me.

He knows that gun-control is foolishness.

You should know too.

[pipoman]

72. Oh heck...Damn the luck..

the pizza fairy came in the night and delivered on poor ol'donny..

[AtheistCrusader]

50. No.

But I was tempted to pick up a FAL. I've always wanted one in .308, and I almost pulled the trigger on it, so to speak, but no, I didn't really think Obama would press for the re-instatement of the AWB, and so far, I'm right. Thankfully.

[dashrif]

55. I

sold a L1A1 and a saiga 308 to finance a 4 person 7 day with rooms disney world vacation and 4 days with rooms at universal thank you Ag Holder

[Tim01]

56. You sold guns to go to Disney!?!? It is a cruel world. nt

[dashrif]

71. I

sold all my .308 stuff off to get 6.8spc or a 6.5 Grendel with dies and brass and disney went and had a buy 4 nights get 3 free deal and the wife and kids went nuts but I will have one someday

We all had a hell of a time

[oneshooter]

57. The two people that are tied for "Gun Salesman of the Year"

Are Bill Clinton and Barack OBama.



Try to prove otherwise.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Euromutt]

61. No, Carolyn McCarthy did

The introduction into the House of HR 1022, coupled with a reasonable certainty that the November election was going to result in a Democrat in the While House, led me to believe a new semi-auto ban (possibly more comprehensive than the last one) was a real possibility, and prompted me to pick up an AR in June 2008, a few months before the panic buying started. I wanted one anyway, but I might have put it off longer otherwise.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

62. He called me personally and talked me into it.

[beevul]

64. Naa.

I have no desire to own one.


But I support others owning them and being able to buy them, just the same.

[Dappleganger]

65. Gun shops everywhere have made a KILLING on weapons and ammo

due to their outright lies and fear-mongering.

[Euromutt]

67. I don't think the buyers needed much encouragement

The only thing gun shop owners needed to say was "Sorry, we've been out of everything except .25 for the past three weeks."

Which "outright lies" do you mean, anyway? Obama's campaign site, and subsequently Change.gov, both mentioned that the incoming administration supported a renewed ban on so-called "assault weapons," and anyone who could look up H.R. 1022 could see what might entail.

[DonP]

73. Want to share an example of the "lies"?

I'd love to see an example or two of the lies and fear-mongering "they" used to drive gun sales.

Is it fear mongering to point out someone's actual voting record and their publicly posted positions on an issue?

Or would you like to just default to the terminally ignorant position and generically claim the NRA made it all up because they hate Dems?

That was probably purely rhetorical because you likely won't ever come back and post here again, since we usually require some basis in fact or some level of support to engage in a conversation.

But have fun up in GD anyway.

[Dappleganger]

75. Wow, why the hostility?

I'm one of YOU...a proud CCW holder and RTKBA person.

Yes, the gun shop owners in this area have made numerous comments in front of both my husband and myself about how the president wants to take away all of our semi-automatic guns AND ammunition. That's three large gunshops which we frequent which are usually half-full of people during the weekday and packed full on weekends. They tell pretty much anyone who will listen to their garbage with no substantiation whatsoever.

BTW, if you want to have a real honest conversation which goes back and forth in a respectful manner, the least you can do is not be rude with ad hominem attacks.

[DonP]

77. Not hostility but ... Umm, those aren't lies

Sorry if I came across as rude, but we get a lot of gun control advocates that don't bother learning anything about the history of gun control or our own party's stance on it.

As a gun owner you need to check out a few facts though before you start blaming the gun store owners. I wasn't there to hear what they said, but they might have been right.

If you take the time to read up the thread a little you'll find that the President's actual voting record in the Illinois legislature was 100% Daley style gun control, against CCW for Illinois three times IIRC, raising the price of an Illinois FOID card (required to buy or even touch a gun and ammunition) from $5 for 5 years to $200 a year etc. - all the way.

It's not pretty and if you lived in Illinois you would not be allowed to be a CCW holder period. If you lived in Chicago you can't even own a handgun and you'd be required to re-register your rifle or shotgun for a fee every year with the police. If you forgot to register it for a year, the Chicago Area Gun Enforcement unit CAGE will come to your house and confiscate your previously registered weapons.

The President went on record early on for gun control with the official party platform for the 2008 election and after he won on White House.gov calling for a permanent renewal of the AWB which would have cut the sales of pretty much all semi-auto rifles with a magazine and a handgrip and a lot of modern shotguns. He also called for closing the (pretty much imaginary) gun show loophole too.

Until the Heller decision he also favored allowing local municipalities be allowed to set up their own registration and bans. Holder, Clinton and others have also called for a permanent AWB. HB1022, introduced by Bobby Rush and supported by Carolyn McCarthy would ban pretty much anything beyond a .22 bolt action. Major tax increases on ammunition sales have also been proposed. After Heller the President reversed himself on bans, but still refuses to call for Chicago to end their ban. But that will be taken care of next week in SCOTUS.

Sorry, they aren't lies if it's on the record and part of the party platform.

Thankfully he's recognized that it would take far more political capital that is actually available to try and push anything through. I'd like to think that they (Obama, Feinstein, Schumer etc.) are finally recognizing the bill of goods that was sold back in the '90's to the Clintons as a bogus wedge issue they got suckered into.

[PavePusher]

80. No ad hominem attack made.

You made some unsupported claims, and got called on it. And the caller supported his rebuttal with facts.

Your turn...

[DonP]

86. Hmmmm, Maybe she didn't like the answers she got?

She seems to be more comfortable blaming those evil, lying gun shop owners ... that were telling the truth she doesn't want to accept.

Or possibly she's trying to find out if what we have all been saying about the party platform and the voting record is a lie.

Please come back and join us Dappelganger.

We're all Dem gun owners, sport shooters, collectors and some are CCW license holders too.

The happy end of the story is that Obama has been smart enough not to let any of his staff push him into a decision to call for more useless gun control at the cost of seats and stature. I hope over time he changes his attitude towards guns and gets some counsel from more people like Bill Richardson and other more gun savvy politicians.

[slackmaster]

74. The "assault weapons" ban was very real

The lies were all created by the people who sold it to the public as something that would enhance public safety.

[PavePusher]

81. Well, if you really want lies and fear-mongering...

...I suggest you look into the agit-prop spread forth by the Brady Campaign, Violence Policy Center, Washington Ceasefire, and the rest of their ilk.

[Hoopla Phil]

66. Well kinda.

I had a couple of FAL rifles already and an AR receiver in the safe that I picked up just cause it was a too good a price to not get. Sooo I was motivated, by the Presidents past voting record and his stated objective to reinstate the AWB on his web site, to get a parts kit and finish out the receiver as my first AR type rifle.

Last year I came across a real good deal on a company going out of business (post Obama bubble) and bought several AR receivers. I plan on building a 300 Whisper and maybe a M-4 clone. (money on the 300 Whisper tax stamp already sent in and waiting.)

[proteus_lives]

68. Ammo for me. Not guns.

I could see that the price was going to jump so I stocked up. Cut down my trips to the range too, it's a bitch.

[east texas lib]

78. Nope, I armed up a looong time ago...

Now, ammo is my main expense.

[Last_Stand]

82. No...

...it's the people that hate him and all other "libruls" that convinced me.

[krispos42]

83. No, but it's not like I could have even if I wanted to.

No cash. Went down to 32 hours a week right at the start of 2009. This was two months after my ex moved to Albert Lea, tripling my driving to go pick up and drop off my son.

I'll probably pay off my credit card this year. That would be nice.



If I was going to buy one I'd buy an M-1 Carbine anyway. I want something with a bayonet on the end of it and a traditional grip so it can double as a spear.

Just in case.


Not that I'd turn down your AR if you chose to gift it to me. Oh my, not at all!

[benEzra]

87. That TOTALLY sucks. Sorry to hear that.

When it rains, it pours...

[krispos42]

89. Got a new car, go from 22 to 28mpg...

...gas prices finally fall from their $4 a gallon prices... and then she decides to move.


Gah!

[Kaleva]

84. No.

[oneshooter]

85. I am still putting the last order into clips and bando's

Ordered 400rds of Greek HXP M2 for my Garands. 8rds per clip, six clips per bando, six bando per ammo box. Also got 600rds of SS109 in before the prices went sky high, but all of my mags are full.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[burrfoot]

88. I'll admit it too....

I'd wanted to get into AR's for a while but had been holding off for $$ reasons. When he won, I took the plunge. I bought two stripped lowers, assembled them, upgraded to magpul bits on the first, put the basic stuff on the second, got into an upper with a piston modification and more magpul goodies.....and the second, now also complete lower is waiting in my safe for me to decide what kind of upper I want to get for it.

The point of it all being that yes, I started to buy due to Obama, but I quickly got real into it and began to enjoy the plug-and-play nature of the platform :)

Don't feel bad- I think most here, at least, would agree that there was reasonable cause to be concerned.

:toast: