Gun makers already marketing assault weapons, study finds

[Kadie]

Gun makers already marketing assault weapons, study finds

By APARNA H. KUMAR, Associated Press


Last Updated: September 7, 2004, 03:44:00 PM PDT


WASHINGTON (AP) - With the federal ban on assault weapons set to expire next Monday, gun manufacturers are marketing military-style firearms and are ready to sell them as soon as Sept. 14, a consumer group said Tuesday.

"The gun industry is champing at the bit for the ban to expire," said Susan Peschin, firearms project director at the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit association of 300 consumer groups that released the study.

The consumer group interviewed gun industry experts and marketing representatives and surveyed manufacturers' catalogs and Web sites.

For example, ArmaLite Inc., a gun manufacturer in Geneseo, Ill., is advertising a "Post-PostBan Rifle Program," offering consumers attachments to convert their firearms to their pre-ban configuration, with shipping available Sept. 14. The company is offering a nonrefundable prepayment option to those who wish to get a jump-start.

more...
http://www.modbee.com/24hour/nation/story/1630921p-9334704c.html

[Radius]

1. Bill Was all bark.

Assault Weapon is a meaningless word. This law banned guns based on looks.

The same devices have been available, minus a bayonet lug, or flash hider.

The following have been legal from day one of the ban..


http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/bushmaster308.asp

[comradebillyboy]

2. i just ordered a new ar-15 with two currently banned features

a threaded barrell, so i can install a diffrent muzzle break if i get tired of the current one, and a telescoping stock, cuz they are neat as hell. i am also having it modified to make it a better target rifle. what fun!

but the gun dealer tells me that the manufacturer will not assemble it till after sept 14.

[Radius]

4. Interestingly

When accurizing ar-15's no brake seems to group better. If you are looking for a match ar bushmaster makes one. Kinda pricey.
The collapsible stock is banned now. Doesn't do much for accuracy.
All the accurizing has been legal. Expensive hobby.

I've always been a fan of the M1a match rifles from Springfield, tremendously accurate match rifle.

[comradebillyboy]

16. the fancy stock is to dress up my toy

and at the range it will give me more status

wow. how shallow is that?

[Radius]

22. To each his own...(nt)

[saigon68]

53. I agree-- Its pricey though

The best weapon for the price is still an SKS with magazine modifications.

[goforit]

15. llllll

[DoNotRefill]

3. Let's HOPE that the AW ban doesn't get turned into an issue....

We've spent far too much political capital and lost too many seats in congress over this issue for a law which did NOTHING except piss off a lot of voters.

[sendero]

13. You can get....

... an AMEN from me. The AWB is a joke that placates people who know little about guns and is a useless wedge issue against Dems.

Let the damn thing expire and good riddance.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[FeebMaster]

7. Million moms?

I don't think so. In any case "Million" Moms vs tens of millions of gun owners. Hmm, tough choice.

[thomas82]

63. You mean the 1800 moms

Right?
Tom

[FeebMaster]

65. If that. (nt)

[DoNotRefill]

8. RIGHT.

Sure. I guess I don't have to remind you of the result of the LAST big national "million mom march", in May, 2004, where only "several hundred" people showed up, according to NPR.

Gun control is a dead issue. It divides us as a party. LET IT GO.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[FeebMaster]

20. I've seen the figures

and it's not many.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[FeebMaster]

24. I'll pass. (nt)

[sendero]

25. Please...

... don't feed the fre.. trolls.

[DoNotRefill]

44. ya know...

I'm pro-gun. I'm often accused of being a freeper here simply because I'm pro-gun. I'm not. This "anti-gunner" (oncognitomygod, or however he spells it) is now sporting a well deserved

Happiness is. :)

[Radius]

26. License

Diesel Fuel and Fertilizer, no Tim McVeigh Right? Should I have to have a license to buy fertilizer now?

You can kill people with all kinds of legal things.

Visit your local chemical supplier and see what you can buy with out a license.

Gangbangers, crack addicts, and general criminals are unconcerned with a license.

People who murder people aren't concerned with possession laws.

And they rarely use rifles to do their work..

[54anickel]

30. That's rather a rude reply, don't ya think?

[DoNotRefill]

49. Nah.

It was justified. This issue is contentious enough without trolls sowing dissention with preposterously inflammatory rhetoric.

[Radius]

21. Reply

These weapons account for a tiny fraction of murders because:
They are expensive, hard to conceal, and require more work to use than a:
cheap handgun or sawed off shotgun.

I live in a small "redneck" farming town, no murders in years. Everyone has guns, nobody shoots anyone.

Visit Detroit, boston, and Philly on business and their murder rates are big.

Social issues are behind murder in many cases. Gun is just the means to an end.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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[Devil Dog Dem]

6. I hear Colt is NOT going to go back to manufacturing a pre-ban AR-15

with a bayonet lug and compensator (aka, flash suppressor).
Has anyone else heard that too?

[FeebMaster]

9. It wouldn't surprise me.

Their loss in business. There are plenty of other manufacturers who will be more than happy to pick up the slack.

[DoNotRefill]

10. If they don't...

others will.

[Devil Dog Dem]

12. I know that OTHERS will, but the question is, will Colt?

I take it nobody has heard.

[Radius]

17. Who Cares

Neither effect the core function of a semi automatic rifle. To place shots accurately.

In some cases these make the rifle less accurate.

These guns are not in the street killing people. You can't conceal an ar-15.

The vast numbers of murders are committed with handguns by people with free choice. This bill has nothing to do with handguns.

The issue is why are people killing people and what can be done to stop it. It is a social issue(s), poverty, drugs, hopelessness. I live in a "redneck" farming town, no one has been murdered here in years.

[Devil Dog Dem]

27. Dude, spare me the cheneying speech

Did you ever think I was asking the question because I wanted to BUY a Colt AR-15A2 with a bayonet lug and compensator, identical (except for the 3-round burst) to the M-16A2 I carried in the Marine Corps?

Hello! My name is DEVIL DOG Dem; Devil Dog as in U.S. Marine!

I don't want a copycat Armalite or Bushmaster, but a Colt and wanted to know if anyone else heard if Colt was going to refrain from making them.

[Radius]

31. Pardon

No offence meant. People jump colt for being "PC". They may not make one for political reasons.

You can pay $200 extra to the feds and get the real deal. Depending on what state you live in.

[Devil Dog Dem]

51. No sweat

In reading my own post I came across as more snotty than I intended.
Sorry! Hope to see you on the range!

DDD

[FeebMaster]

36. You could always get the Colt

and have the barrel threaded. You could probably find a legitimate Colt flash suppressor and bayonet lug to put on it.

[DoNotRefill]

45. Ummmm...

I thought Colt hadn't produced guns for the US military for a while? Didn't Bushy get the contract at one point? I think FN had it for a while too....

[Devil Dog Dem]

52. Colt is selling worldwide, to dozens of countries

They sold millions to the U.S., now they are going after the rest of the world.

I heard FN had the contract too.

[comradebillyboy]

18. colt may not be sufficiently profitable

in that market nich

[Devil Dog Dem]

28. Yeah, I've heard that.

They are getting away from individualized sales and focusing on mass markets, i.e., military.

[Jack_DeLeon]

61. colt = overpriced

[slackmaster]

69. AFAIK Colt never stopped making them

See http://www.colt.com/law/ar15a2.asp - Bayonet lug, collapsible stock, military type flash suppressor not soldered on; the whole nine yards.

When the ban expires Colt could simply start selling their "law enforcement" semiautomatic models to the general public.

[Jack_DeLeon]

32. There is nothing progressive about...

bans.

[DaveSZ]

34. ?

So how many Housse seats did the Dems lose again because of this useless law that bans cosmetic features?

[gulfcoastliberal]

33. Gun control & the AWB are loser issues...

America is a gun-crazed country. I know people who stockpile ammunition like WWIII is happening tomorrow (250K+ rounds). Guns will always be available and whether someone has 10 vs 15 bullets in a gun really doesn't matter. This issue always goes ove like a lead balloon.

That said, I would like for the media to confront * on his statement he supports AWB and wants it renewed. Let him sound like a "gun grabber" to his retarded base.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

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[Romulus]

55. hee hee

That said, I would like for the media to confront * on his statement he supports AWB and wants it renewed. Let him sound like a "gun grabber" to his retarded base.

I would love to watch their heads implode when they try to puzzle that one through! LOL!


"Bush supports the 2d Amend, that's why he supports a gun ban - er- um, huh?!@"

[slojim240]

56. Yeah, they are issues supported by losers.

Sad commentary on democracy in the US.

[onehandle]

38. Great for those men who need help...downstairs!

An assault weapon is a LOT cheaper than penis enlargement surgery.

[FeebMaster]

39. What about the women that buy them? (nt)

[Devil Dog Dem]

54. Hey! The fact that I have a small "package" has nothing to do . . .

with my wanting an assault rifle!

So stop saying that!

[thomas82]

64. Onehandle whats with you and the Penis jokes???

If you are possessed by penises fine, but I don't think this is the place for such talk.
Tom

[WarIsPeace]

40. Gun Control is Racism!

The Bill of Rights was a delaration of uninalienable Rights. Now when the constitution says flat out everyone has the right to bear arms. If you support any of these gun bans you are supporting the premise that rights are somehow privileges, that the government has the "right" to determine what the constitution meant by "right". And believe you me they are using this "new" and "improved" definition of "rights" to declare all our rights privileges. Just read the appropriatly named "Patriot" Act!

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

-Pastor Martin Niemöller

I highly recommend watching this series of videos on the constitution. You need to know your rights to defend them!
http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=election_2004&collectionid=Michael_Badnarik

[MrBenchley]

59. Just ask gun control opponents...like Trent Lott, Ted Nugent

Larry Pratt, Tom Tancredo, John AshKKKroft, the Aryan Nations.....

[Christof]

41. What the HELL do people need assault weapons for????

THEY DON'T!!!

And if Bush gets reelected, I hear talks of people anticipating a civil war. Assault weapons aren't going to do you any good against our ARMY!!!

[uncle ray]

42. they seem to be effective in Iraq.

civil war isn't all about the government dropping big bombs on people. there would be very much close combat. it will be things like DUers and freepers hunting each other down. defend yourself with a pea shooter if you wish. i'll take a high powered rifle.

[FeebMaster]

43. No one is using assault weapons as defined by the AWB

in Iraq. Why would they? You can buy machine guns there for a small fraction of the price of the semi-auto variants here.

[DoNotRefill]

47. full auto is overrated in an AW....

trust me, I know. Aimed single round fired is the key. Spot target, aim, shoot one bullet, repeat as necessary. Now for a SAW, that's a different matter.

[FeebMaster]

48. I can't disagree with that.

It's just that the whole AWB/machine gun thing bothers me.

[foo_bar]

50. more likely, DUers and freepers against the other 99%

[DoNotRefill]

46. Since when does need figure into exercising a constitutional right?

Did the Nazis NEED to march in Skokie?

As for the old "assault weapons aren't going to do you any good against our army" bit, in case you missed it, pal, our army is currently occupied in Iraq....where people (which is what the militia is...the people, except for a few elected officials) with assault weapons and IEDs seem to be keeping them plenty busy. Is our army getting it's ass kicked? Nope. But it sure as shit hasn't pacified anything, and there are loads of places it can't go on the ground in less than battalion strength.

[MrBenchley]

58. Since when does gun nut delusion become a "constitutional right"

Of course, the assault weapons ban was trested over and over again in court and was perfectly constitutional, since there is no individual right to own guns...but I bet you knew that....

"Did the Nazis NEED to march in Skokie?"
Bet they'd have loved to have assault weapons when they did.....

"in case you missed it, pal, our army is currently occupied in Iraq....where people (which is what the militia is...the people, except for a few elected officials) with assault weapons and IEDs seem to be keeping them plenty busy."
Boy o boy, I bet our gun loonies are creaming their jeans wishing Milwaukee can be just like Baghdad.

[Sterling]

57. Does anyone know what the gun laws in NYC are like?

Could I get one of these and keep it in NYC? I don't think so. As I understand it all guns are illegal in NYC period. Please someone correct me if I am wrong. If they are allowed I would actually like to have one. No sense letting the RWers have all the fire power.

[Radius]

62. Your First Born...

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/nyc.aspx

I think it is illegal to posses a fart in NYC...

Unless you pay big dollars for the licenses, or are a criminal and don't give a shit. If you pack a legal firearm in your check bags and are diverted to NYC it is a major pain in the ass.

[missile_bender]

60. It's OK, because terrorists never use guns, especially not

assault weapons.

[RamboLiberal]

66. I think the hidden factor in this is now new high cap magazines

can be manufactured. Post-ban magazines were limited to 10 rounds. That came about after the Long Island RR shooting pushed by Rep Carolyn McCarthy who lost 1 family member and had another injured.

Course there were a lot of pre-ban magazines available(at inflated cost), and cops had LE only high cap mags.

I'm curious how DU'ers view this?

Do you think this makes things more dangerous.

Now a good shooter can change a mag quickly.

[slackmaster]

70. Magazine capacity is the ONLY substantive part of the AW ban

It MIGHT make a difference, but I haven't seen any hard data about shootings done with round #11 or #29 fired from a large magazine.

The rest of the AWB is pure cosmetic fluff.

[leesa]

67. This is what the whole bogus second amendment BS is about...

making lots and lots of money selling arms to stupid, gullible, overly frightened Americans.

[slackmaster]

68. It took them 10 years to figure this out?

I love it when a lobbying group gets air time with a bunch of old information and spins it as a "study".

Even funnier, this is being reported in a California newspaper. California law has a much stricter definition of "assault weapons" that includes a ban on transfers of existing ones, and it's not going to expire. Expiration of the federal ban is a tempest in a teapot.