McCarthy’s verbiage warrants explanation. According to the National Rifle Association, what she means by "assault weapons ban" is the Clinton Gun Ban of 1994. Congress allowed that ban to expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that federal, state and local law enforcement agency studies showed that guns made illegal by the ban had been used in only a very small percentage of crimes, before and after the ban was imposed.

With the nation’s murder rate at 43% lower than in 1991, and the re-legalized firearms still used in only a small percentage of crime, re-authorizing the Clinton Gun Ban would be objectionable enough. However, McCarthy’s "other purposes" would make matters even worse. H.R. 1022 will ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions of more firearms, including:

1. Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban (the Clinton Ban dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have. Manufacturers modified new firearms to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022 would ban the modified guns too.

2. Firearms exempted by the Clinton ban - Ruger Mini-14s, 30s and Ranch Rifles; .30 caliber carbines; and fixed magazine, semi-automatic and center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.

3. All semi-automatic shotguns. E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting and self-defense. H.R. 1022 would ban them because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip", and it would also ban their main component, called the "receiver".

4. All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles including, for example, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire, because they have "any characteristic that can function as a grip".

5. Target shooting rifles, including the three center-fire rifles most popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield M1A and the M1 Garand.

6. Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle that an Attorney General one day claims isn’t "sporting," even though the constitutions of the U.S. and 44 states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use guns for defense.

7. Sixty-five named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto fixed magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity, and frames, receivers and parts used to repair or refurbish firearms.

H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the Clinton ban and ban the sale of a legally owned "assault weapon" with a magazine of over 10 rounds capacity. It would also begin backdoor registration of firearms by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and parts to be conducted through licensed dealers. Finally, whereas the Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would be a permanent ban.

Now is the time to make your stand. Voice your views to save your gun rights and those of your children. It is of dire importance that firearm owners contact their U.S. Representatives and urge him or her to oppose H.R. 1022 now. If this bill gets through, it won’t be the end of further attempts to ban our Second Amendment rights in America. A letter or phone call is effective. However, always remember to be courteous, brief and to the point. The following is contact information for New Hampshire:

       Senator Judd Gregg
       393 Russell Senate Office Building
       Washington, D.C. 20510-2904
       Phone: (202)224-3324
       Fax: (202) 224-4952

       Senator John E. Sununu
       111 Russell Senate Office Building
       Washington, D.C. 20510-2903
       E-Mail: mailbox@sununu.senate.gov
       Phone: (202) 224-2841
       Fax: (202) 228-4131

       Representative Carol Shea-Porter
       1508 Longworth House Office Building
       Washington, D.C. 20515-2901
       Phone: (202) 225-5456
       Fax: (202) 225-5822

       Representative Paul Hodes
       506 Cannon House Office Building
       Washington, D.C. 20515-2902
       Phone: (202) 225-5206
       Fax: (202) 225-2946

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com