Fellow gunnies, here is how the anti-freedom forces, enabled by our old friends from BATFE, are going to try and get our guns this time–shotguns first. Now bear in mind, it isn’t just those e-e-evil magazine-fed Saigas they’re concerned about–those nasty tube-fed shotguns can be reloaded even faster.
In regard to sporting purposes, the working group found no appreciable difference between integral tube magazines and removable box magazines. Each type allowed for rapid loading, reloading, and firing of ammunition. For example, “speed loaders” are available for shotguns with tube-type magazines. These speed loaders are designed to be preloaded with shotgun shells and can reload a shotgun with a tube-type magazine in less time than it takes to change a detachable magazine.
ZOMG!!! Teh Evil is all arounds us!!!
The Way of the Multigun takes Michael Bane‘s initial postings and runs with them. It’s worth a visit, because he speaks from the perspective of the shooting competitor.
Now, this sorta wookie-suiter is gonna get his tin-foil hat on. Read this paragraph from the study:
The USPSA currently reports approximately 19,000 members that participate in shooting events throughout the United States.32 While USPSA’s reported membership is within the range of members for some other shotgun shooting organizations,33 organizations involved in shotgun hunting of particular game such as ducks, pheasants and quail indicate significantly more members than any of the target shooting organizations.34 Because a determination on the sporting purpose of practical shooting events should be made only after an in-depth study of those events, the working group determined that it was not appropriate to use this shotgun study to make a definitive conclusion as to whether practical shooting events are “sporting” for purposes of section 925(d)(3). Any such study must include rifles, shotguns and handguns because practical shooting events use all of these firearms, and a change in position by ATF on practical shooting or “police/combat-type” competitions may have an impact on the sporting suitability of rifles and handguns. Further, while it is clear that shotguns are used at certain practical shooting events, it is unclear whether shotgun use is so prevalent that it is “generally recognized” as a sporting purpose. If shotgun use is not sufficiently popular at such events, practical shooting would have no effect on any sporting suitability determination of shotguns.
Therefore, it would be impractical to make a determination based upon one component or aspect of the practical shooting competitions.
Read the part I’ve helpfully bolded. Now read it again.
I posted a comment on Michael Bane’s blog earlier that it sounded to me like the boys in F Troop might be coming after all shotguns over .410 by re-categorizing them as “destructive devices“. It looks like I may be guilty of not thinking big enough.
I have to wonder if not only do they want to get all shotguns, but they’re going to try for all imported guns as an added bonus by saying that the sorts of things they’re used for aren’t “sporting”.
I also think that there may also be a move against certain types of shooting competitions that are going to be painted as some sort of “practice” for…something. Hell, if I shot in paintball tournaments I’d be getting worried right now.
“Tactical” may turn into the new fastest way to receive more attention from The AurthoritIs than you want. Own an old pair of BDU pants or a new pair of cargo pants? Sir, you’ll have to come with me.
You missed the point of the magazine paragraph. They know that tube mags are sporting. They then found that box magazines were sporting BECAUSE they could find no difference between them and tube magazines. This was a common sense interpretation, not a conspiracy to get rid of all shotguns forever.
Of course, that is not as exciting as a good conspiracy.