As a gun owner and a former member of the NRA I have arrived at the opinion that there should be

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113. During the "ban" both AR-15 rifles and high capacity magazines were available ...

however the high capacity magazines were very expensive.

Prior to the ban few of the shooters that I knew had much interest in owning a "plastic rifle." A few decided to buy one after the ban was implemented because anytime anything is "banned" it becomes more interesting and cool to own. Those individuals found that the 'black rifles" were accurate, reliable and amazingly easy to modify with numerous aftermarket accessories.

Soon most of the shooters that I knew decided to purchase an "assault rifle" and also at least two or three high capacity magazines for their new toy.

The only two things that the "ban" accomplished was first to make a relatively unpopular category of firearms a top seller and second to cause gun owners to fear draconian gun laws and bans.

It is also unfortunately true that the AWB led to many Democrats losing close elections to Republicans simply because of the gun control issue. I believe that Bush the Younger would never have been elected to his first term let alone his second had it not been that many gun owners showed up at the polls to vote for the candidate they felt was the most pro-RKBA.