are they really defining a pistol with a pistol grip as an assault weapon? How is that supposed to work?
It works very simply, they put the words on paper, enough other lawmakers vote yes, it passes, the Gov. signs it, it becomes law. No matter what reality is, no matter how the rest of the world defines it, whatever they put in the law becomes the legal definition.
It's a rather simple editorial change, really, from the original assault weapon law, using the same terms, but in a slightly different application.
Someone who doesn't understand firearms (or who does and just wants to ban/regulate as many as possible) might not even notice the actual effect of the change, ..immediately.
The original law defined "assault weapon" as any semi automatic rifle, pistol, or shotgun with 2 or more of the "listed features". The lists were slightly different for rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
Two of the features in the rifle and shotgun list were a pistol grip, and detachable magazine. (there were others, as well)
In the pistol list, a detachable magazine was a prohibited feature, if it went into the gun anywhere OTHER THAN the pistol grip.
My guess is that some brilliant fellow looked at the lists, and decided that since a pistol grip and a detachable magazine made a rifle an assault weapon, and a pistol grip and a detachable magazine made a shotgun an assault weapon, and since an assault weapon could be a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, then a pistol with a pistol grip and a detachable magazine must also be an assault weapon, and it's a relatively simple matter of an editorial change to cover that previous "oversight".
Actually, I'm surprised it took them this long....
Also, brace yourselves for the next "leap of logic" they will make, banning revolvers as "assault weapons". The language is in the law, already, and has been since 1994. The made the Streetsweeper and Striker 12 assault weapons, (by name) and included language that said (essentially) "the named guns, or any other firearm with a mechanism substantially similar to the named firearms".
The mechanisms of those two revolving shotguns is directly copied from DA revolvers. SO, when they get around to it, that gives them the legal basis for regulating revolvers, as they are "substantially similar to" guns that have been on the assault weapon list for decades!!
They aren't coming after revolvers, NOW, but I am certain when they feel the time is right, they will. AND, they will have the argument that it has been the law for decades, why are you objecting now???
