Iowa Lawmaker: Ban Semi-Automatic Weapons, Then Start Taking Th...

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Iowa Lawmaker: Ban Semi-Automatic Weapons, Then Start Taking Them From Gun Owners if Needed
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 12:00pm by Erica Ritz

A Democratic legislator in Iowa is startling citizens with his most recent proposal: ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons, and confiscate them from existing gun owners if need be. Here is an excerpt from Iowas Daily Times Herald, which conducted the interview with State Rep. Dan Muhlbauer: In an interview, a fiery Muhlbauer said it is time to act with radical changes on gun laws and other issues to protect schoolchildren from shooting sprees like the one last week in Newtown, Conn. We cannot have big guns out here as far as the big guns that are out here, the semi-automatics and all of them, Muhlbauer said. We cant have those running around out here. Those are not hunting weapons. He added, We should ban those in Iowa. Muhlbauer, who did not list the specific weapons he wants outlawed in The Daily Times Herald interview, said he would like to see the ban implemented in a retroactive fashion. Even if you have them, I think we need to start taking them, Muhlbauer said. We cant have those out there. Because if theyre out there theyre just going to get circulated around to the wrong people. Those guns should not be in the publics hands. There are just too many guns. [Emphasis added] It should be noted that based on the interview, Muhlbauers knowledge of firearms appears to be limited. He conflates semi-automatics with big guns, even inserting a sweeping and all of them phrase at one point. He also seems to think the Second Amendment was created to satisfy hunters, saying those are not hunting weapons, without any mention of protecting the individuals sweeping right to keep and bear arms. (Photo via The Daily Herald)

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Iowa Lawmaker: Ban Semi-Automatic Weapons, Then Start Taking Th...

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Dan Cartwright, co-owner of TDS Guns, places a semi-automatic pistol on display at his store in Rocklin, Calif. , Friday, July 27, 2012. (Photo: AP) At one point in the interview, Muhlbauer suggests a voluntary buy-back program to get around the predicament of confiscating countless weapons, but it could only be considered voluntary for the willing participants. Those unwilling to sell back their guns would face some sort of penalty, he says. But U.S. Rep. Steve King, a Republican from the same state, has been outspoken in his defense of the 2nd Amendment. King first and foremost states that gun rights are intended to protect the individual, but has previously said he owns a semi-automatic for coyotes that sometimes roam his land. Muhlbauer weighed in, according to the Daily Times Herald, to say that a semi-automatic is a little ridiculous for coyotes, and that King doesnt need such a big gun. Actually, we have a lot of people that go after them, and they trap em, he suggested. In the loaded interview, Muhlbauer also said that maybe its time we start pulling [away] video games from children, but when pressed on how the government would limit childrens entertainment, conceded that parents should just be paying more attention. According to the Daily Times Herald, Muhlbauer owns three guns: a .410 shotgun, a .22 rifle, and a .22 pistol. As for confiscating weapons, local Republican Mayor Ken Behrens expressed concern about how citizens would react. I would hate to see a law where it would be mandated that somebody start taking guns, he stated. I dont think that would go over well. Click here to read the entire Daily Times Herald article.

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Iowa Lawmaker: Ban Semi-Automatic Weapons, Then Start Taking Th...

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(H/T: CNS News) Related:

Heres the Audio of the NY Gov. Talking Gun Control: Confiscation Could Be an Option Ted Cruz Comes Out Guns Blazing on Unconstitutional Gun Control Proposals Alex Jones Goes Ballistic Debating Gun Control With Piers Morgan: 1776 Will Commence Again if You Try to Take Our Firearms!

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