Feinstein calls for banning more than 150 types of firearms; Government officials would be exempt

by Chad D. Baus

The Daily Caller is reporting that California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) staged a press conference Thursday on Capitol Hill with 10 weapons at her side and unveiled legislation instituting a government ban on more than 150 types of firearms, including rifles, pistols and shotguns.

From the article:

Flanked by other anti-gun liberal lawmakers, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, Feinstein announced the introduction of the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013."

The legislation being pushed by Feinstein — who has long history of calling for gun bans — would prohibit the sale, transfer, importation and manufacture of certain firearms.

During the press event at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, the Democrats described these firearms as "dangerous military-style assault weapons." The bill would also ban high-capacity ammunition feeding devices that can hold more than 10 rounds.

Feinstein said the country's "weak" gun laws allow massacres like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occur.

"Getting this bill signed into law will be an uphill battle, and I recognize that — but it's a battle worth having," Feinstein said in literature handed to reporters at the Thursday event.

Others who joined the Democrats for the press conference included Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Washington National Cathedral dean Gary R. Hall.

This sort of stunt from Feinstein — displaying weapons for dramatic effect while discussing new gun laws — is hardly new. Joe Morrissey, a Democratic delegate in Virginia, caught some colleagues by surprise last week by bringing an AK-47 onto the floor of the House of Delegates while calling for Gun Control.

And David Gregory, the moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," found himself in hot water for displaying a high-capacity gun magazine during an interview with a leader of the National Rifle Association in December. NBC studios are in Washington D.C., where having possession of such magazines is illegal. While DC police investigated the incident, no charges were filed.

Feinstein failed to explain why she believes the proposed ban, much like the one that was the law of the land in America from 1994 - 2004, and which failed to stop spree killings at Columbine, Paducah, Jonesboro, etc., would make any difference this time around.

Meanwhile, The Weekly Standard is reporting that not everyone would be forced to abide by Feinstein's gun control bill. If the proposed legislation becomes law, government officials and others will be exempt.

"Mrs. Feinstein's measure would exempt more than 2,200 types of hunting and sporting rifles; guns manually operated by bolt, pump, lever or slide action; and weapons used by government officials, law enforcement and retired law enforcement personnel," the Washington Times reports.

The Huffington Post confirms these exemptions, and adds that guns owned prior to the legislation becoming law will be permissible, too. "[T]he bill includes a number of exemptions: It exempts more than 2,200 hunting and sporting weapons; any gun manually operated by a bolt, pump, lever or slide action; any weapons used by government officials and law enforcement; and any weapons legally owned as of the date of the bill's enactment."

Much has been made in the past few weeks about how President Obama (and his family), as well as New York and Chicago Mayors Bloomberg and Emanuel, are protected by guns, but are at the same time fighting to prohibit the rest of us from having the same option for protection.

They aren't the only ones:

Diane Feinstein in 1995 on her concealed carry permit: 'I know the urge to arm yourself because that's what I did'

Harry Reid praises guns in 2010: 'I carried a gun every place I went':

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.