What would you actually do?

[Hokkmike]

Pennsylvania is considering legislation to require yearly checks of owners and permits for keeping "grandfathered AR-15's. Violation would be a class 3 Felony. What real chance this has of passing I don't know. You can bet that I'll make it my business to find out and get involved.

Obviously, this is something that is or could be effected elsewhere and/or nationally.

I have pondered what I would do if this actually does occur. So, I have posed the options to you in my first ever attempt at a poll on this (any) website. Considering that answers are anonymous I would appreciate your candid reply.

 

[Duncan223]

While it is important to comply with laws, I believe it is more important to voice your opposition to all the politicians regarding this issue and hopefully prevent such a law from even making it out of committee. This piece of legislation is bad law, not two ways around it. BAD LAW.

Should it be passed, the voters should seek redress with the State Supreme Court to over-turn the law based on several criteria, ranging from violating the State Constitution, hardship, etc. The pro-Rights/pro-Gun voters must learn to use the same tactics the enemies use. Win at all cost, concede nothing.

 

[waynedm]

I'd pack up and move to another state.

 

[22-rimfire]

PA is a great state. But, your legislators have been sending an almost continuous stream of proposed restrictive gun legislation through the state legislature. None pass generally. Unfortunately, one of these days, one will "stick". Be active and contact your representatives at a minimum.

 

[creitzel]

Pennsylvania is considering legislation to require yearly checks of owners and permits for keeping "grandfathered AR-15's.

Have AR-15's been banned in PA? I must have missed something.

 

[Robert J McElwain]

Option #1

I'd sell them all for cash. That's my story and no one can prove otherwise.

Bob

 

[pacodelahoya]

Creitzel,
Some of the politicians are trying. I started a thread on it weeks ago. I Tell everyone I know to call their reps. As far as what I would do? Well, let's just say that I don't own any "hunting guns" for just such an occasion.( I'd keep the JBT's tied up for days trying to find transport for my guns and ammo thereby giving everyone else time to dispose of theirs)

 

[TexasRifleman]

If it were to actually come to pass, I'd do what many suggest here regularly.....


Move back to the United States.

I know that's a drastic step but if it gets to that point you really are in a place where you don't belong philosophically.

How can it still be "home" if that's the law of the land?

Pack the truck and move out.

 

[azredhawk44]

It's hard to inspect them if they aren't in your house.

EBR's (AR15, AR10, AK47, M14, FAL, etc, also known as Homeland Defense Rifles) are really only useful for organized militia. Not trying to be a Zumbo/Fudd, I hold it my right to freely associate with any red-blooded American and form my own militia if need arises. Katrina-type situations display a blatant need for neighborhood watch groups and informal organized militias.

I don't forsee an EBR being any more useful to me in a bad situation than a handgun, lever gun or SxS/pump-shotty. Without smart tactics, I don't see the additional firepower being useful.

I'm in no way advocating that the Pennsylvania proposal is moral or right, and I'm not passing moral judgement on EBR's (I own 1 and am building a second one now). Were I in Pennsylvania facing this legislation, my EBR would not be found in my home. End of story.

But I would be found with an EBR of some sort during civil unrest, with a group of like-minded neighbors, and well organized to take care of our little corner of the world. Registration and inspection are a hop/skip/jump away from confiscation, and I won't stand for that.

 

[wooderson]

I enjoyed taking magic mushrooms once upon a time - but I ain't picking them, buying them or (sadly) using them today. It's not worth a possession case to practice non-constructive disobedience.

Likewise, I'm not going to chance a felony rap following me around my entire life - including an a prohibition against ANY other firearms - to buck the system on my EBR.

Sell 'em, comply, move out of state are all reasonable options. What I'd do depends entirely on my ties to the community, employment and other desires.

 

[floridaboy]

For the sake of conjecture, sell 'em for cash . Then vote with my feet and move out of state!

 

[Prince Yamato]

These laws won't pass. The political climate is way different than it used to be. That said, I chose other. Like some of the posters mentioned, I'd "sell" my weapons for cash or is it that I'd "cache" my weapons. Either way, I'd make sure to publicly cry and piss and moan after I "sold" my weapons.

 

[RealGun]

There really is something extremely wrong with mere ownership being treated as a felony. That demonizes the object, doesn't it? What if it is never used to threaten or harm anyone, never used in commission of an act rightfully considered criminal? The kicker with a "felony" is forever thereafter losing the ability to legally exercise the RKBA. Of course, if that is the objective, this is all understandable, isn't it? Know your adversary.

 

[Beatnik]

PA is a great state.

Correction - PA used to be a great state, and then about 60 years ago they decided they didn't want to be a great state anymore.


I agree that it won't pass. For all the talk about "political capital", the R's never really acted on it. All they wanted to do is "fix" social security and add flag burning amendments to the US consititution, and they don't have enough political steam to do it.

In the same way, the D's are playing the same old tune on the same old fiddle. The difference is that they don't even have any political capital - all they have is posts filled because people voted out their predecessors. I don't think that's enough to push something like this all the way through.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't write your reps, though!

 

[wooderson]

There really is something extremely wrong with mere ownership being treated as a felony.

How many objects are illegal to possess in the United States (or portions thereof)? Should it be impossible to make possession (of any given item, firearm, drug, electronics component) illegal?

 

[pacodelahoya]

Wooderson,

yes.

 

[beretta9]

By their logic, the anti gun crowd believes that a gun, (that everyone knows has a mind of its own), can control whomever is in possession of it. That is why they shake with fear whenever they think someone will be carrying one. Going by their logic or illogic, they should be passing laws making the gun responsible for acts of violence. Lock them up, throw away the key, make it an example to other guns that are thinking of committing a crime.

 

[RealGun]

I intended the question to be what rises to the level of a felony, or is the resulting loss of rights with a technical felony conviction the real goal of the proposed legislation? If there isn't a legal test for what constitutes a felony, beyond mere length of sentence (bogus), not subject to change on a whim, there should be. We will set aside the question whether a free and sane man (of age) (ex-con) should be denied rights, especially the RKBA.

 

[Professor K]

Ignore the law, and keep it anyway.

The only reason gun laws are made is because they know the gun culture is so law abiding. Seriously, where else would you find this amount of law abidingness anywhere in this society. 6 US made parts, pistol grips, c'mon, it's obvious we're just being ****ed with. Nobody BUT us would obey such inane crap, and the more we obey the laws, the more we send the signal to them that we'll anymore they make.

I would (theoretically) ignore the law, and just go shoot it on my or a friend's property.

 

[Hemicuda]

I'd move somewhere better to live...

 

[Robert J McElwain]

I remember when Australia went crazy and passed their gun laws, an awful lot of guns got "lost", "stolen" or "fell off the boat into the river while fishing".

Those Aussies are great kidders.

Bob

 

[JWarren]

EBR's (AR15, AR10, AK47, M14, FAL, etc, also known as Homeland Defense Rifles) are really only useful for organized militia.

Uhm... My EBR is also known as my Deer HUNTING rifle. Many states DO allow the use of a semi-auto hunting as long as you use a low capacity magazine.

I fail to see how the 308 coming out of my EBR is less useful in this role than if it is fired from a Remingtion 700. Just looking at the examples listed in parenthesis (AR15, AR10, AK47, M14, FAL) Three of them fire a 7.62 NATO (308 Win)-- an excellent round for a deer rifle. My Saiga 308 fires 1" groups with 150 grain Ballistic Tips-- that'll do for any shot I need. The AK fires a 7.62mm round that can be an effective "brush" rifle. I use my AK when brush hunting deer. Even though I think the AR15 is too light for my taste in deer hunting-- and 223 is illegal in MS for that purpose, it can and has been done.

I use deer hunting as my example because:

1. It is a medium-sized game animal
2. It is the primary hunting that I do
3. Most hunters can relate to it one some level

I suppose I am just trying to understand this statement of utility.


John

 

[azredhawk44]

Uhm... My EBR is also known as my Deer HUNTING rifle. Many states DO allow the use of a semi-auto hunting as long as you use a low capacity magazine.

I fail to see how the 308 coming out of my EBR is less useful in this role than if it is fired from a Remingtion 700. Just looking at the examples listed in parenthesis (AR15, AR10, AK47, M14, FAL) Three of them fire a 7.62 NATO (308 Win)-- an excellent round for a deer rifle. My Saiga 308 fires 1" groups with 150 grain Ballistic Tips-- that'll do for any shot I need. The AK fires a 7.62mm round that can be an effective "brush" rifle. I use my AK when brush hunting deer. Even though I think the AR15 is too light for my taste in deer hunting-- and 223 is illegal in MS for that purpose, it can and has been done.

I use deer hunting as my example because:

1. It is a medium-sized game animal
2. It is the primary hunting that I do
3. Most hunters can relate to it one some level

I suppose I am just trying to understand this statement of utility.


John

I hear you.

I've been hunting with my M1A a couple of times. I use a 5 round magazine when I do so in accordance with state law here in AZ. You're absolutely right... .308 is .308, and doesn't discriminate at the receiving end whether it comes from a FAL or a NEF Handi-Shot rifle.

But one of those rectal-inverted New England states (I think its Pennsylvania, but am welcoming correction) doesn't allow hunters to use semiauto rifles for game harvesting unless they are physically handicapped somehow. That takes away the routine "utilitarian" role an EBR might serve, leaving only its true purpose - that of Homeland Defense Rifle.

There is absolutely no way that, at least in my neighborhood/town/region/whatever, that I am going to use my EBR for routine home defense, though. I would require suspicion of a larger-than-normal threat in order to load up the M14 mags for anything other than hobby or hunting.

With that premise stated, I can safely say that my M14 would not be in my home if such a law were passed, but I would be found with an EBR standing with my neighbors if lawlessness were to start to prevail.

 

[RecoilRob]

The folks over in the East (Harrisburg, Philly) might get enough votes to make this Law pass, but us that live where George Washington started the French & Indian war are a notoriously belligerant bunch and would ignore the 'ban' and ALL of the clauses and penalties.

They would need to import Storm Troopers from the East to enforce it too...as many of our State Employees are Americans and wouldn't condone such an infringement of our God Given Rights.

Looking for a fight over this? If it happens, it WILL happen in this area. Do you remember "From my cold, dead hands?"

 

[pacodelahoya]

Recoil,

Dang skippy!