ATF to accept public comments prior to outlawing shotguns

[Lloyd Danforth]

http://libertarianreview.us/2012/05/26/atf-to-accept-public-comments-prior-to-outlawing-shotguns/

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is taking a rare step of allowing public comments prior to issuing a decision on a study that could result in outlawing certain types of shotguns currently available to citizens.

The ATF completed a study regarding the importability of certain shotguns. The basis for a possible ban is based on a loosely defined "Sporting Purpose" test. Using the vague definition almost all pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns could be banned as they are all capable of accepting a magazine, box or tube capable of holding more than 5 rounds. Other characteristics determined to be "military" by the ATF can also be used as a basis for a ban.

[jerry]

Evan Nappen wrote an article explaining how this ain't gonna happen.

http://whyguncontrol.blogspot.com/2012/04/little-noticed-provision-kills-atf.html

Congress stuck an ATF defunding provision in an appropriations law.

SEC. 541. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel to deny, or fail to act on, an application for the importation of any model of shotgun if–
(1) all other requirements of law with respect to the proposed importation are met; and
(2) no application for the importation of such model of shotgun, in the same configuration, had been denied by the Attorney General prior to January 1, 2011, on the basis that the shotgun was not particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.

[KBCraig]

As far as the ATF is concerned, there is only one sport that applies to "sporting purposes": hunting, or simulated hunting like shooting trap, skeet, or sporting clays.

Thousands more people engage every weekend in practical shooting sports, using high capacity semi-auto pistols, so-called "assault weapon" semi-auto rifles, and tactical shotguns. They have competitions, prizes, even full time professional competitors with factory sponsorships, but the ATF doesn't consider this "sporting".

[Tom Sawyer]

"Sporting" purpose???

WTF are they talking about... there is no Constitutional protection of hunting, competitive shooting, plinking, gun collecting or whatever.
The only protection is for hunting rogue governmental personnel, I suppose it could be considered sporting... well I suppose it's not really very sporting to shoot politicians ducks in a barrel. However justified and fun it would be.

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;

Damn NRA sold us out, by being "moderate" and "compromising", and people think they protect gun right.   
The founders weren't trying to protect frilly ornate collectible guns, or hunting rights or competitive shooting...

[Russell Kanning]

is "sporting" what you would call Dick Cheney shooting people?

[KBCraig]

is "sporting" what you would call Dick Cheney shooting people?

Not when they're sitting ducks.

[Russell Kanning]

so people can't have shotguns but obama gets drones