Just in case you missed the news out of Massachusetts…

The loophole in the Mass. assault weapons ban
It prohibits the sale of specific weapons like the Colt AR-15 and AK-47 and explicitly bans “copies or duplicates” of those weapons. But gun manufacturers have taken it upon themselves to define what a “copy” or “duplicate” weapon is. They market “state compliant” copycat versions of their assault weapons to Massachusetts buyers. They sell guns without a flash suppressor or folding or telescoping stock, for example, small tweaks that do nothing to limit the lethalness of the weapon.

BS Translator: Since it turns out that some weapons actually weren’t ‘assault weapons’ under our ban, we’re going to ban everything that vaguely resembles an ‘assault weapon.’ Which means we’ll work our way down the list and ban everything.

Doubt it? “If a gun’s operating system is essentially the same as that of a banned weapon, or if the gun has components that are interchangeable with those of a banned weapon, it’s a ‘copy’ or ‘duplicate’.” That means any blowback, direct-impingment or piston gas-operated semi-auto, or revolver. She’s gone from, These specific evil features make ordinary guns into death-spewing murder-machines to Oops, the folks who said those features are operationally cosmetic, so now I’ll pretend the law meant something other than those specific features. Now it’s type of action.

What’s next? Oops. I meant any repeating firearm. No more pump or bolt action repeaters for you. Even though the law specifically exempts those.

No doubt this current move will save a lot of lives not make a difference, except to criminalize what was legal 24 hours prior.

Amusingly, those of us old enough to remember the ’94 federal Assault Weapon Ban could have predicted the immediate result. Back then, arbitrarily-designated “assault weapons” a list which included the very rifle I purchased specifically for deer hunting) flew off the shelves as people hustled to get theirs before the law went into effect.

Yep. Lines running out gun store doorways.

Oh, the litigation circus we’re going to see in coming months and years. Get busted for having an “assault weapon” and hope you kept your receipt to prove it pre-dated the arbitrary change-by-non-legislative fiat; false arrest suits. Can a grandfathered “assault weapon” be transferred again (as one could under the federal AWB)? Will anyone challenge this in court as clearly being beyond the specifically stated scope of the written law?

Oh, the irony.