Your Opinion: Feinstein's weapons bill misses the mark

Dear Editor

Sen. Feinstein's gun control: SB150-Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 probably set a new record for the speed of proposed US legislation being e-mailed, copied, faxed across the world.

It includes a list of approximately 150 banned guns and rifles, and also an amazing 95-page long Appendix A listing about 2,000 approved weapons. The value of these guns just went through the roof.

Any documentation that the Kreighoff Trumpf Drilling, and the Benelli Bimillionaire are "safe" guns versus the Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, or the Daewood KK-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2 which the bill would ban? Or any proof that the banned IZHMASH Saiga 12S EXP-01 ever hurt a human being in the United States?

The amazing specificity of the bill banning 150 guns and simultaneously approving about 2,000 guns in Appendix A suggests that these lists have nothing to do with the use or misuse of weapons in the United States. They probably had been tucked away in a bureaucrat's desk, collecting dust, waiting for a fortuitous occasion.

It is curious that next month the UN General Assembly will again take up the international treaty to regulate the $70 billion conventional arms trade. The Obama administration has supported this effort since it began several years ago. The Feinstein bill specifically prohibits importing various weapons and devices.

It seems that the first section of our Second Amendment might be the source of some confusion, "a well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State." It has nothing to do with hunting or with personal protection. It has to do with protecting a country.

Seventy thousand Americans lost their lives in the Revolution shedding a foreign power. The new union of 13 states, population 3 million, still was surrounded by British, French, and Spanish possessions. And invasion has always been the best way to increase your empire.

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution clarifies the meaning of the Second Amendment: "[The Congress shall have the Power To] provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions."

The leaders of the 13 states foresaw a knowledgeable well-armed populace might be needed to defend the union.

To the question "why do you need that gun?" the answer is "why is it any of your business?"

The real issue is always intent. SB150 misses the mark.