The import ban cometh

March 2, 3:21 AMSt. Louis Gun Rights ExaminerKurt Hofmann

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   SKS with detachable 30 round magazine.
   Photo courtesy of Oleg Volk

Back in mid-February, U.S. Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY) wrote a letter to the president urging enforcement of the "sporting purposes" clause of the Gun Control Act of 1968. Under this clause, enthusiastically enforced by Presidents Bush the Elder and Clinton, firearms that are determined not to "be generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes" could not legally be imported.

That might not be such a problem, except for the fact that apparently, defending one's life, family, and liberty are not considered "sports." I suppose many would regard a "National Would-Be Tyrant Killing League" as being in poor taste. Pity--that sounds like something worth watching.

These standards were slightly relaxed under the previous administration, and Representative Engel is chomping at the bit to return to the more extreme interpretation.

We ask that you direct ATF to act in accordance with the 1968 Gun Control Act and return to enforcing the ban on the import of all assault weapons, both those that are fully manufactured abroad as well as those imported as parts. By restoring these important restrictions, we will be able to help reduce violence here in the United States, while also sending an important signal to our friends in Mexico. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

The letter was co-signed by over fifty members of the House Citizen Disarmament Caucus (they don't really call themselves that--yet--but it's an accurate description).

Last week, Attorney General Holder announced that Rep. Engel's wish would be granted.

President Barack Obama's administration is beginning to respond. On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder promised to enforce a long-ignored ban on importing assault weapons, many of which are resold illegally and smuggled into Mexico to resupply the cartels.

Calderón applauded Holder's announcement as "the first time ... in many years that the American government is starting to show more commitment."

I recently mentioned this . . . interesting justification for a ban--because of violence in Mexico, supposedly exacerbated by firearms illegally exported there, we're supposed to stop importing many popular firearms. Yeah--that makes sense.

Then again, the forcible citizen disarmament lobby doesn't need to make sense. They only need for us to be unwilling to fight them at every turn.