Mo. Democrat proposes assault weapon ban

Friday, February 15, 2013

By JORDAN SHAPIRO

Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s gun-friendly culture isn’t stopping some House Democrats from trying to purge assault weapons from the state.

Legislation backed by several St. Louis area lawmakers would require gun owners to surrender or destroy their assault weapons within 90 days of the measure’s passage. The proposed ban would include semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and semi-automatic pistols with the capacity to shoot more than ten rounds of ammunition before reloading.

Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than ten rounds would also be prohibited. Under the bill, gun owners could choose to send their weapon to another state if they didn’t want to destroy them.

In a chamber controlled by a two-thirds Republican majority, the legislation is unlikely to advance or even get a hearing. The bill’s sponsor said Friday he knows Missouri is a very conservative state, but he still wants a dialogue on safety.

“I am serious about some kind of control of weaponry. I am a realist, however, and am willing to accept some compromise,” Rep. Rory Ellinger, D-St. Louis, said. The bill is also sponsored by Reps. Jill Schupp, Margo McNeil and Rochelle Walton Gray.

The measure would make possessing, manufacturing or importing assault weapons a felony. If convicted, a person could serve a one to seven year prison sentence. Ellinger said his measure only targets “military-style” weapons and doesn’t include handguns or hunting rifles.

Even though the prospects of passage are slim, GOP lawmakers are still criticizing the bill.

“The only way this bill will pass is if a hammer and sickle is sewn onto Old Glory,” tweeted Rep. Caleb Jones, R-California.

The bill would exempt law enforcement and military members if assault weapons are used in their line of work. Manufacturers and dealers selling exclusively to police or the military would also be exempt. Jones said the restrictions on gun manufacturers would “kill jobs in the state of Missouri.”

Schupp said she understands why people might not like the bill, but questioned whether people should have assault weapons in the home.

“On a personal level I don’t understand the need for high capacity semi-automatic rifles,” she said.

Ellinger’s measure is the latest in a string of gun proposals in the Missouri Legislature. One Democrat has filed a bill that would require parents to notify their child’s school if they own a firearm, while multiple pending Republican bills would nullify federal gun control laws.

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The assault weapons bill is HB545

Online:

Legislature: www.moga.mo.gov

More like this story

hobo 3 months ago

Yes all four Representatives that sponsored this little bit of illegal legislation are from St. Louis districts. Three of them women who rose through the education ranks as indoctrinators called teachers and now wish to push their ideologies on rural areas of Missouri.

This is part of Obummers nationwide initiative as Minnesota introduced legislation that follows this bill almost word for word yesterday as well. The tyrants are just throwing stuff out there trying to stir the pot and hope something sticks.

If they ever do get their oppressive legislation passed (which won't happen today) I hope these four socialist are in the group that come and attempt to take my firearms.

dinger 3 months ago

Got to laugh at some of the proposal our fine elected leaders put forward. Do they really think that hardly anyone would abide with this law. All they want to do is create a new class of felons that they can have control over. Gun control laws have nothing to do with safety or security they are for controlling the people to give themselves more power. IF this is such a good thing then why are there exemptions in the bill?

This piece of legislation is a total farce like that proposed by the Odumbo administration which is also nothing more than a control measure so they can have absolute power over the citizens of this country. Measures such as these need to be fought against and fought hard and, the voters need to remember those that make these proposals and vote them out as quick as possible as they are the worst type of politician.

connor 3 months ago

Apparently Tenn. and Wisconsin Democrat/Feminist put out similar legislation today as well.

Of course they want the militarized Law enforcement to keep their weapons just the people who are not doing the crimes anyway dis-armed.

All I can say is this is a line for me. I am not registering my firearms, not paying a tax on them and not giving them up without a fight and not accepting a lesser status of firearm owner simply because I never wanted to flex my ego and lust after power like 90% of the LEO's.

Not happening.

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