Repudiation: Rand Paul Against Gun Ban That Did Not Happen

I just received an e-mail with the above banner at the top.  Senator Paul makes some serious allegations that appear to be completely false.

Dear fellow Patriot,

Nearly 1 million American firearms.

Banned by a stroke of Barack Obama’s pen .

In a move unprecedented in American history, the Obama Administration quietly banned the re-importation of nearly 600,000 American made M1 Carbine rifles.

I've spent about half an hour trying to track down data on this ban.  Perhaps it is real and Google failed to notice.  I've found lots of fear tactics by various Republican candidates anticipating the November elections and threats by the National Rifle Association that "Obama will take your guns".  Nothing about either legislation or executive orders banning M1 rifles.

And I've just discovered Obama may be blocking as many 300,000 1911 Colts too!

That's nearly one million pieces of American history denied to the American people.

I can't find information on this happening either.  The e-mail continues with the history of various firearms and a call for people to take a "firearms freedom survey" that is being sponsored by the National Association for Gun Rights.

Then it begs for money to protect your firearms.

Decades ago I was trained in the use of several firearms by the United States Navy and a few more in cross training with the Marine Corps.  I am far from being opposed to the Second Amendment.  That being said, I do not believe that we should have allowed the Assault Weapons Ban to expire in 2004.  I am opposed to the Stand Your Ground laws while I support the Castle Doctrine.  In other words, I am like most Americans who support reasonable gun laws ... no need to go to extremes in any direction here.

Mr. Rand's scare tactics are absurd.  President Obama has been a centrist on gun rights.  No crazy bans and not even reasonable restrictions like restoring the Assault Weapons Ban. 

This is just the latest in a series of anti-gun schemes from the Obama Administration:

*** A new so-called “Assaults Weapon Ban " -- targeting ALL semi-automatic rifles and shotguns -- which, unlike the Clinton ban, would NEVER expire;

*** An outright BAN on “high capacity” magazines -- banning the sale and manufacture of magazines holding more than just a handful of rounds;

*** A National Concealed Carry “Standard ” -- designed to make it even more difficult for law-abiding citizens to carry a gun to protect themselves and their families from assault;

*** Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Catch-All Gun Control Scheme ” -- to create a national “cannot buy registry,” allowing citizens to be stripped of their Second Amendment rights on a Justice Department whim, effectively banning all private gun sales.

That’s why it is essential that Americans like you and I take a stand against the M1 Carbine and 1911 gun ban!

While I would support a new Assault Weapons Ban that would never expire, I cannot find where that has been introduced or suggested other than by Mr. Paul. 

Immediately following the massacre at Virginia Tech and again after the nearly fatal attack on Congresswoman Giffords there were calls for banning high capacity magazines.  Sadly, those calls have not been realized with any proposed legislation.

A concealed carry standard might be a good idea if it is designed correctly.  There was, in fact, a proposal earlier this year that would have established a national standard that Senator Paul is warning about.  He should know about it because he was one of the sponsors.  Is he really complaining about his own legislation??!?

New York City Mayor Bloomberg has been in the news recently with his opposition to Stand Your Ground laws.  The National Rifle Association is not happy with the Mayor.  But there has been no proposal to ban individuals from buying guns based "on a Justice Department whim".

I'm not going to continue quoting from the e-mail as it is rather boring repetition, very much in the style of Eugene Delaudio's rants and about as delusional.  Gun laws are important.  The Second Amendment is important.  The balance is missing.  Despite Mr. Rand's complaints, President Obama and the Democrats have been too far to the right and need to place reasonable limits including both a renewed Assault Weapons Ban and a ban on high capacity magazines.  There should be a national registry so that criminals who have been banned from purchasing guns can be kept from owning them.  We need reasonable laws like the Castle Doctrine and need to get rid of laws like Stand Your Ground.

One more note.  Thorough training should be required for any who own guns.  The number of accidental gun deaths are far too high.  Owning a gun means taking on a huge responsibility.  I am grateful for the training that I received in the U.S. Navy.