# If assault weapons are banned do authorities just restrict new ones or collect the existing ones? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256 "2012-12-17T02:02:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/1 "2012-12-17T02:02:04Z")
How would a ban on assault weapons be implemented on a practical basis? Do the existing owners get to keep and use their banned guns? Do they require you turn them in? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/2 "2012-12-17T02:30:20Z")
I believe that was one of the big teeth-removing aspects of the AWB–they let people keep their old weapons, and just created lists of guns that couldn’t be sold. Another big teeth-removing part was that gun manufacturers took the gun design that had been banned, added a few parts and called it something else and voila! no ban. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/3 "2012-12-17T03:07:19Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Another big teeth-removing part was that gun manufacturers took the gun design that had been banned, added a few parts and called it something else and voila! no ban. No, the reason the law was toothless is because the basis for deciding whether a gun was banned or not was stupid and arbitrary. The fault lies with the government for getting worked up over aesthetics, not with a manufacturer for catering to the government’s irrational demands. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/4 "2012-12-17T03:13:57Z")
When they rolled out new legislation in Australia post the Port Arthur incident, the government had a gun buyback program coupled with a amnesty. Anyone could bring in any guns without repercussions, where they were valued by an ‘independent’ valuer and you were paid for the value of the weapons you turned in. At the conclusion of the amnesty if you were caught with illegal firearms you were subject to the prescribed penalties regardless of when you might have bought it, or how long you’d owned the the weapon. The buyback was funded by a specific short term 1% levy added to everyone’s income tax rate. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/5 "2012-12-17T03:17:14Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > When they rolled out new legislation in Australia post the Port Arthur incident, the government had a gun buyback program coupled with a amnesty. Anyone could bring in any guns without repercussions, where they were valued by an ‘independent’ valuer and you were paid for the value of the weapons you turned in. At the conclusion of the amnesty if you were caught with illegal firearms you were subject to the prescribed penalties regardless of when you might have bought it, or how long you’d owned the the weapon. > > The buyback was funded by a specific short term 1% levy added to everyone’s income tax rate. I wish that would work here, but there’s no way that it will. [See Here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=4774) ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/6 "2012-12-17T04:10:10Z")
Oh, I would imagine any collection of existing guns would be met with the business end of the gun pointed at the collecting authority! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/7 "2012-12-17T05:40:54Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I believe that was one of the big teeth-removing aspects of the AWB–they let people keep their old weapons, and just created lists of guns that couldn’t be sold. Not only did it let people keep their guns, but let them buy and sell them as well. So it was always perfectly possible to buy one, but in theory the prices should have slowly crept up as no new ones entered the market. This has also been the situation with fully automatic weapons since 1986. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/8 "2012-12-17T07:23:34Z")
Jack there are very tight restrictions on the buying and selling of fully automatic weapons. As for assault weapon bans, they will always be doomed to failure. There is no meaningful way to distinguish the difference between an assault weapon and any other gun. Instead of bans, institute tighter regulation on semi-automatics (similar to automatic weapons). Couple this with buy back programs and production caps and the number of semi-autos will dwindle. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/9 "2012-12-17T07:28:25Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > There is no meaningful way to distinguish the difference between an assault weapon and any other gun. I disagree. “Semi-automatic, pistol grip, detachable 30-round magazine” is a totally different kettle of fish to “Bolt-action, Monte Carlo Stock, 5-round integral magazine”. I’m not making a judgement call that one is better than the other, BTW. Just saying it’s absolutely possible to effectively differentiate “Scary Black Guns” from “Traditional hunting rifles”. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/10 "2012-12-17T07:42:47Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I disagree. “Semi-automatic, pistol grip, detachable 30-round magazine” is a totally different kettle of fish to “Bolt-action, Monte Carlo Stock, 5-round integral magazine”. So what do you do with a semi-auto with a detachable magazine, but no pistol grip? Or a semi-auto with a pistol grip that ships with a 10 round magazine…but will also accept existing 30 and/or 50 round magazines? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/11 "2012-12-17T07:53:25Z")
And how about a Winchester 1894, chambered for .357 magnum? It holds 10 in the tube and one in the chamber. Lever action, but in skilled hands it is capable of a decent rate of fire for 11 rounds. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/12 "2012-12-17T10:17:23Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > So what do you do with a semi-auto with a detachable magazine, but no pistol grip? There’s not many of those out there, though. M1A, Mini-14, and the Saiga-308 are the main three I’m aware of. They’ve got the same handling characteristics (from what I understand) as a bolt-action rifle, but you’ve got a slightly faster follow-up shot. > [@](#): > > Or a semi-auto with a pistol grip that ships with a 10 round magazine…but will also accept existing 30 and/or 50 round magazines? Same thing most other countries with restrictions on this sort of thing do - make it illegal to own a 30+ round mag or put one in the gun. Australia and the UK get around the problem by simply saying “No semi-autos full stop, except (in Australia, at least) for a (literal) handful of farmers.” New Zealand basically uses the Semi-Auto Rifle + Pistol Grip/Detachable Mag/Bayonet Lug/Flash Suppressor (pick one) test to differentiate sporting arms from Military Style Semi-Automatics. It is still possible for civilians to own military style semi-autos, just more difficult and you need a special licence endorsement. > [@Oakminster](#): > > And how about a Winchester 1894, chambered for .357 magnum? It holds 10 in the tube and one in the chamber. Lever action, but in skilled hands it is capable of a decent rate of fire for 11 rounds. They also take ages to reload, one round at a time, after you’ve fired those 11 rounds off. 35 aimed rounds in a minute is about the fastest you can likely do with a bolt-action rifle. You can fire off 30 aimed rounds from a semi-auto in a few seconds and have another 30 round mag in there a few seconds after that. Bear in mind, I’m not necessarily saying law-abiding, sensible people shouldn’t be able to own certain types of gun. I’m just saying I really don’t think it’s that hard to differentiate between the sort of guns which do seem to appear often in mass shootings and are subsequently of greater concern in the public consciousness, and a traditional hunting rifle. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/13 "2012-12-17T12:25:10Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Oh, I would imagine any collection of existing guns would be met with the business end of the gun pointed at the collecting authority! > ~VOW Which would ultimately result in the pointer being either dead or in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/14 "2012-12-17T13:21:52Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Instead of bans, institute tighter regulation on semi-automatics ( **similar to automatic weapons** ). No, they’re not. Actually, I guess they are. In much the same way that bolt actions, revolvers, and flintlocks are similar to automatic weapons. > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > 35 aimed rounds in a minute is about the fastest you can likely do with a bolt-action rifle. **You can fire off 30 aimed rounds from a semi-auto in a few seconds** and have another 30 round mag in there a few seconds after that. You can? With what, a .22? Even with a buffered .223, you’re not likely to get off ‘well’-aimed shots after the first or second. Bolding all mine ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/15 "2012-12-17T13:32:11Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > No, they’re not. > Actually, I guess they are. In much the same way that bolt actions, revolvers, and flintlocks are similar to automatic weapons. What **Hbns** said was that instead of banning guns, we should institute tighter regulations on semi-automatics, similar to the tight regulations we have on automatic weapons. He said the tight regulations should be similar not that the weapons are similar. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/16 "2012-12-17T13:35:56Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > What **Hbns** said was that instead of banning guns, we should institute tighter regulations on semi-automatics, similar to the tight regulations we have on automatic weapons. He said the tight regulations should be similar not that the weapons are similar. Ohhhhhh, of course. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/17 "2012-12-17T14:11:51Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Bear in mind, I’m not necessarily saying law-abiding, sensible people shouldn’t be able to own certain types of gun. I’m just saying I really don’t think it’s that hard to differentiate between the sort of guns which do seem to appear often in mass shootings and are subsequently of greater concern in the public consciousness, and a traditional hunting rifle. Thanks. I’m running into this argument that it is absolutely impossible to differentiate among guns based on functional identifiable characteristics. It sounds like something that is obviously not true, but not being a gun guy, it’s hard for me to tell. My discussions seem to hit a brick wall when any attempt to understand better is met with disbelief that I could possibly be of the opinion that you should be able to keep your hunting rifle, but not your weapon that fires 100 rounds in a minute without reloading; somehow I’m obviously just trying to set up a slippery slope. ---
**Author:** ![KermitTheFrig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@KermitTheFrig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KermitTheFrig)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/18 "2012-12-17T15:11:02Z")
> [@astro](#): > > How would a ban on assault weapons be implemented on a practical basis? Do the existing owners get to \*\*keep and use \*\*their banned guns? Do they require you turn them in? Bolding mine. What, exactly, do existing gun owners use these for on a day to day basis? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/19 "2012-12-17T15:14:53Z")
Somehow other countries seem to have workable regulations. How hard can it be? Admittedly I know very little about the subject, but can’t you just say that it shouldn’t be able to fire more than x rounds a minute and able fire no more than y rounds before it’s necessary to reload? Obviously you’d be regulating clips also. Maybe you could also require that it take some minimum average amount of time to load a new clip; require several several mechanical releases or something. It seems simple to me. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256/20 "2012-12-17T15:21:05Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Somehow other countries seem to have workable regulations. How hard can it be? > > Admittedly I know very little about the subject, but can’t you just say that it shouldn’t be able to fire more than x rounds a minute and able fire no more than y rounds before it’s necessary to reload? Obviously you’d be regulating clips also. Maybe you could also require that it take some minimum average amount of time to load a new clip; require several several mechanical releases or something. > > It seems simple to me. Me too. But, it has been explained to me in other threads, that this is absolutely and entirely impossible. I have a hard time believing it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-assault-weapons-are-banned-do-authorities-just-restrict-new-ones-or-collect-the-existing-ones/644256.md?page=2)