Ammo Ban
In LA, there’s an ammo ban. I’m not sure what it bans, exactly, as they use terms like military-style. And the press repeats it. John Lott notes:
Terms such as “military-style” just seem to be the all purpose term to demonize gun related items, and the media repeats these claims just as they are willing to call so many guns assault weapons.
I think military-style is even in the press style book.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
“I think military-style is even in the press style book.”
Nope, it’s not in the latest AP Stylebook. The closest you’ve got is “assault-style weapon” which is “any semiautomatic pistol, rifle or shotgun originally designed for military or police use with a large ammunition capacity. Also, firearms that feature two or more accessories such as a detachable magazine, folding or telescopic stock, silencer, pistol grip, bayonet mount or a device to suppress the flash emitted while shooting in the dark.”
I find it rather amusing that if journalists actually followed AP-style like they are supposed to, then they would do a much better job on reporting firearms issues accurately. It’s not that hard to keep a copy of the stylebook around and pull it out when there’s a topic you don’t know very well.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Heh. Almost all guns and ammunition are “military style” after a fashion. Nearly everything we shoot can be traced at the very least to parallel military use.
I can’t wait to see the proposed ban on military-style sniper rifles like the Remington 700, and military-style ammunition like .30-06 and .223.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Doesn’t Mexico treat “military caliber” stuff more harshly. I find it amusing that you get in more trouble if you get caught with a single 9mm round in your car going across the border than if you have a .45 acp round. Because the 9mm is “military”. Lame
December 18th, 2008 at 11:35 am
At least they’re not banning hollowpoints….
December 18th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
“any semiautomatic pistol, rifle or shotgun originally designed for military or police use with a large ammunition capacity. Also, firearms that feature two or more accessories such as a detachable magazine, folding or telescopic stock, silencer, pistol grip, bayonet mount or a device to suppress the flash emitted while shooting in the dark.”
So an M1911 is an “assault-style weapon” ? LOLZ
Actually, my Enfield has a detachable magazine AND the dreaded bayonet lug. “Assault-style weapon” circa 1917!
December 18th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
You really can’t blame the LA city government on this matter.
I am certain that LA has a lot of crimes perpetrated with 50 BMG weapons.
At around 19 lbs, they are quite easy to carry and conceal.
In all seriousness, though, the funny thing about the 50 BMG rifles and California is that Ronnie Barrett, who makes the best 50s, refuses to service Barrett rifles sent back to him by Califonia law enforcement agencies.
If I remember correctly, he won’t even return them, which means that they have to come retrieve them.
We need more people like Ronnie Barrett.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Press-style has come to mean complete and utter BS.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
CTD, remember, the M1991 was technically a “machine gun” under the law in DC. Still was for a week or so after Heller since that was not the particular law struck down by the Supremes, but it has since been altered.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Oops, 1911, not 1991. Gah.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Chris, you’re right! There’s been a LOT of .50 caliber rifles brandished in LA. They’re really impressive, as Barret’s model is 30 pounds of brute force, and at nearly 60 inches long. Taller than many gang bangers! Their shear size has stopped many an argument, thus saving many lives. And as Mrs. Brady always says,”…even if just one life is saved!”.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
The Brown Bess musket was originally designed for military use. Ban it!! For the children!!
Can anyone tell me if the gang-banger “baggy pants” fashion was really started by those damn concealed .50- caliber Barrets pulling them down so low?
December 19th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
“Military style” ammo probably means any metalic cartridge case capable of containing a primer, powder, and bullet in cartridge form. All current military metalic cartridges are of this basic “style”. If we go back in time a bit, loose powder and ball would also be “military style”. If we go back a little more, a bow, an edged weapon, or a rock could be considered “Military Style”.
Anything is “military style” including clothing, food, water, transportation, communication, et al. Various militaries after all, do in fact use these things. I am at this moment using a military style computer in a military style office, breathing military style air…
December 19th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Oh yeah, in U.S. vs Miller, the SCOTUS set a precedent for a standard for 2A protection. The decision says military style weapons are those weapons specifically protected by the 2A. Miller lost the case because SCOTUS assumed (wrongly, but with no one there to argue Miller’s case) that sawed-off shotguns had no militia pourpose. Had Miller been charged with possession of a BAR in violation of NFA ’34, the decision might very well have gone the other way, and we’d have been freed from the NFA then and there.
As it is, military style anything is specifically protected.
Too bad no one will respect that, in which case we have a rouge government.