The NY SAFE ACT. One of the more idiotic pieces of legislation I've seen come out of a state legislature with regards to firearms.
Why?
Over the fold.
Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a DKos group of second amendment supporters who have progressive and liberal values. We don't think that being a liberal means one has to be anti-gun. Some of us are extreme in our second amendment views (no licensing, no restrictions on small arms) and some of us are more moderate (licensing, restrictions on small arms.) Moderate or extreme or somewhere in between, we hold one common belief: more gun control equals lost elections. We don't want a repeat of 1994. We are an inclusive group: if you see the Second Amendment as safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms individually, then come join us in our conversation. If you are against the right to keep and bear arms, come join our conversation. We look forward to seeing you, as long as you engage in a civil discussion.
So they banned the AR15 in New York right? Well, the answer to that question is "kinda."
You see, when you ban a firearm based on certain cosmetic features, the cosmetic features will be modified so they don't count anymore.
For example: if a semi-auto rifle can accept a detachable magazine AND have one of the following, it's considered an assault weapon.
- Folding or telescoping stock
- Protruding pistol grip
- Thumbhole stock
- Second protruding pistol grip (you'd think having ONE would already disqualify you)
- Bayonet mount (lots of drive by bayonetting going on I guess?)
- Flash suppressor
- Muzzle brake
- Threaded barrel
- Grenade launcher
Now I'm not a big fan of the following website (some right wingy nutjob stuff), but I can't find a better source out there: link
Prototypes for the newly designed AR-15 are hitting gun shops across New York, as gun shops and machinists have designed a rifle that complies with the anti-gun law.
At least one gun shop has received a letter from state police saying that the new AR-15 style rifles should be legal in the state as long as they don’t have some of the features that the law prohibits.
...
The new AR-15 design did away with the pistol grip which gives the gun an odd paintball gun look. The stock is fixed as well, but at least New Yorkers now have a legal way to own an AR-15, a fact which is still driving some gun control activists mad.
I found a better link!
Well, I hope it's a better link. Not familiar with the Times Union.
link
Prototypes for the new rifles have been on display at gun shops from western New York to the Adirondacks in recent weeks. And now a lawyer representing one shop says he has gotten what amounts to an OK from the state, in the form of a letter from a State Police lawyer confirming that AR-15-style guns should be legal as long as they lack the characteristics prohibited by the law.
...
It retains the semi-automatic capability possessed by any standard AR-15, meaning one can simply pull the trigger for each shot rather than having to work a bolt action or lever each time.
...
The modifications aren't particularly difficult for gunsmiths, who also point out that the AR-15-style rifle, first developed for military use in the late 1950s, has a modular design that makes it easy to add or remove different features.
So, like the 1994 AWB before it, the NY SAFE Act assault weapons ban is bypassed with some minor cosmetic changes.
8:25 AM PT: I couldn't have put this better myself. From the comments section:
The point is that if cosmetic changes get by the
the ban, the ban itself is cosmetic.
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