Time to register ''assault weapons''... But do Columbus criminals care?

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that starting Aug. 11, "assault weapons" owners will have 90 days to register their guns or risk being charged with a crime. Owners must register guns Columbus law now classifies as assault weapons, but city officials say they won’t make them trek to an office to do it.

From the story:

    Some city officials had proposed requiring all assaultweapons owners to register in person.

    But Public Safety officials determined this week that owners of the weapons can complete a one-page form, notarize it and mail it in, said Assistant Safety Director Barb Seckler.

    "It should be pretty painless," said city licensing officer Ralph Jones, who helped design the process. "That’s it, no fee."

    Firearm owners have until Nov. 9 to register. If they prefer, they can register in person at 750 Piedmont Rd., where notaries are available. City officials are asking residents to come with the firearm’s make, model and serial number, but not the weapon.

Do they honestly believe people who use these firearms (which they typically don't even legally possess) to harm others and commit crimes are preparing right now to jump through these ridiculous hoops? What exactly do they think the definition of a criminal is, anyways?

The story raises an even more ridiculous notion:

    Although the ban is aimed at Columbus residents, anyone who owns one of these firearms and thinks they might move to Columbus should register as well, city guidelines say.

    That’s because the registration is a one-time event. If someone moves to the city after Nov. 9 and owns one of these weapons, it will be illegal for them to keep the weapon in their home unless it’s registered.

Brent Greer, secretary of the People’s Rights Organization, told the Dispatch that making the process easier shouldn’t put gun owners at ease.

"Many who register don’t understand they are giving up their rights because they can’t give it or sell it to someone else," Greer said. "And criminals, the very people this ordinance was supposedly aimed at, won’t register their gun."

Furthermore, the story notes, the onus is on the resident to know whether the gun meets the city’s definition of an assault weapon. Not that a criminal will care either way...

Click on the Read More..." link below for another excellent letter to the Dispatch editor about this ridiculous ban.

August 03, 2005
Columbus Dispatch

Assault-weapons issue largely misunderstood

Many letters to the editor have discussed assault weapons, but most display ignorance, especially after first stating, "I own guns, but . . ."

AK-47s and M-16s are assault weapons, but they were banned back in 1934, along with all fully automatic weapons. Columbus’ definition of assault weapons includes the treasured Remington hunting rifle my father gave to me 33 years ago. It also includes the most popular target rifles used in the annual National Matches held at Camp Perry, Ohio.

It includes many guns enjoyed by good citizens who recreationally shoot inexpensive surplus ammo.

Somehow, people have concluded that Columbus’ assault weapons are extremely powerful. The opposite is true, unless you look at the deer-hunting guns, which far overpower the fun-shooting pistol-cartridge semiautos.

People say the police are in favor of this ban, but they are quoting the politically motivated upper echelon, not the street cops who laugh when they are told that this ban will protect them. Bans do not deter the criminals; they only burden the good citizens who obey these onerous laws.

Robert S. Maroldy
Gahanna

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