[TarJak]

Originally Posted by geetrue

What I want to know is what happens to people that already have these guns and the clips that may or may not become available in the near future?

Surely everyone won't have to march down to their nearest police station and turn them in.

We are talking tens of thousands of clips and semi-automatic guns in private hands.

You are talking millions of semi-automatic rifles: http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/201...n_america.html

A November 2012 Congressional Research Service report found that, as of 2009, there were approximately 310 million firearms in the United States: “114 million handguns, 110 million rifles, and 86 million shotguns.” However, author William J. Krouse went on to note that “data are not available on the number of ‘assault weapons’ in private possession or available for sale, but one study estimated that 1.5 million assault weapons were privately owned in 1994.

Even if you say only 2% of the 110 million rifles are in the banned categories you are still talking about 2.2 million guns plus all the mags to go with them. I've said elsewhere that I can't see the US being able to afford to run a buy back of these weapons as at below market rate of $1500 per weapon you'd be talking a cost of $3.3bn plus mag costs. If there are more than that then the math gets worse for the Treasury. Nothing in comparison to the deficit mind, but can you see Congress passing another $3bn plus in the current economic climate? Not to mention the bleating that will come from the manufacturers about jobs etc.

Originally Posted by Stealhead

My guess is that they would(notice i did not use will) wind up grandfathering in already produced magazines just like they did with previous bans.Even that New York ban makes it crime only if you happen to get caught with an illegal magazine so a smart New York gun owner would move to another state if they can not do this then they just keep their high cap magazines out of sight.

It will be nearly impossible to pass any such laws through congress though and even if they did there are more than enough states that would not ratify.That leaves an executive order but those can be vetoed by Congress 2/3 majority.I think in the end what they will wind up with is some sort unilateral requirement on back ground checks right now private sales and in some states sales at guns shows do not require a back ground check.

And so the US will go around the same buoy again with the next shooting of children.

So how does the Congress veto look in the current make-up? If it goes along party lines then the executive order would stand would it not? If its a conscience vote then I'd say its up in the air.