The Loadout Blog

News|Firearms

On Monday the NRA-ILA posted an article on their website titled Florida Alert! “Assault Weapons” Ban Amendment Bans ALL SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS. 

In the article the NRA-ILA discusses a proposed 2020 Florida constitutional amendment to ban “assault weapons.” 

The proposed constitutional amendment is meant to ban the possession of: “any semiautomatic rifle or shotgun CAPABLE of holding more than ten (10) rounds of ammunition at once, either in a fixed or detachable magazine or other ammunition feeding device.”

This wording is blatantly clear and concise that this constitutional amendment will ban all the firearms in Florida. No, weapon any Floridian will own will be safe. If the amendment is accepted it will require all Florida firearm owners to register them with the state government. Which allows the state of Florida to know who owns what firearm and how many. You will have a year to comply or otherwise be arrested and charged for felony possession of so-called “assault weapons” if weapons are found to be unregistered by police.

This amendment to the Florida constitution will turn law-abiding citizens into potential criminals. They will say you wouldn’t be a potential criminal if you registered your firearms with the state. Why should people want to register when you are trampling on one of the promised liberties of the Bills of Rights. By banning all semi-automatic firearms this amendment is blatantly infringing on firearm owners rights and liberties. In this country we have a democracy which allows for discourse and debate. To find solutions to dynamic and complex problems together. This country was founded on certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea in the Declaration of Independence is vital to foundation of this nation. In a time of uncertainty and complexity is not the time to abandon this idea but, embrace it and make sure it preserve all freedoms for future generations to enjoy. 

Below is the whole article from NRA-ILA about the proposed constitutional amendment in Florida. 

The so-called “assault weapons” ban that is proposed for a constitutional amendment to be on the 2020 Election Ballot bans the possession of: 

“any semiautomatic rifle or shotgun CAPABLE of holding more than ten (10) rounds of ammunition at once, either in a fixed or detachable magazine or other ammunition feeding device.”

The fact is, any rifle or shotgun that is “capable” of accepting or using, a detachable magazine that holds 10 rounds or less is also “capable” of accepting a magazine or magazine extension of any size. Magazines with a capacity of 3 all the way up to 100 rounds are in common use throughout the United States. 

Therefore, ALL semiautomatic rifles and shotguns “capable” of using a detachable magazine or fixed magazine would be banned. UNLESS YOU REGISTER THEM WITH THE GOVERNMENT within a year — so the government knows who has guns and how many.  Otherwise you can be arrested, charged and prosecuted for felony possession of so-called “assault weapons” and your guns confiscated.

That means all Ruger 10-22 semiautomatic rifles, all Remington Model 1100 shotguns, all Benelli shotguns,  all semiautomatic hunting rifles, all semiautomatic plinking and target rifles — you get the picture.  If it is semiautomatic, kiss it goodbye. 

Firearms that you legally purchased, legally owned, legally used, and legally possessed for years could suddenly be banned and you could end up in prison for merely continuing to possess your own property if you fail to register with the government. History shows that when the government knows who has guns and where they are, they can come and confiscate them.

Remember, once convicted of felony possession of a so-called “assault weapon,” then YOU LOSE ALL OF YOUR GUNS because felons can’t possess ANY GUNS, Period. 

Further, manufacture and sale is also banned since there is no exemption whatever for possession due to manufacturing, distribution or sale.

Simply put, over 150 manufacturers may be forced to shut down and move out of Florida if they manufacture semiautomatic rifles or shotguns. Goodbye jobs, goodbye Pittman-Robertson money for youth gun safety programs, goodbye retail gun shops, HELLO, major damage to the job market and Florida’s economy.

A recent Gallup poll shows that over 40% of households ADMIT to owning at least one gun. That number is probably much higher since we don’t like telling pollsters what we own.  In Florida with a population of over 22 million, that means 9-10 million Florida households could lose their home defense firearms if they are semiautomatic rifles or shotguns.

At an August 16th hearing, sponsor and supporters of the “Assault Weapons” Amendment said the following: 

“We don’t think it bans Ruger 10-22 rifles, they’re just .22s.” –BUT IT DOES!!!!! 

“My Benelli shotgun is beautiful and shouldn’t be banned. — BUT IT WILL BE!!!!! 

“We don’t want to shut down your shooting range and gun shop.” — BUT IT WILL!!!!!

Welcome to reality.  What they think or what they say they want doesn’t matter.  

ONLY the words matter and the proposed amendment will ban Ruger 10-22s, Benelli Shotguns, Remington Model 1100 shotguns and all semiautomatic rifles and shotguns with detachable or fixed magazine. 

What matters is what the language says and does. And past experience has shown us that the government will enforce it as badly as they possibly can.  

BOTTOM LINE: The sponsors and supporters either don’t know what the heck they are doing or they are lying.

AND your Second Amendment rights are in danger. PERIOD.