June 11, 2022

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Gun News

House passes gun package, raising age for semi-automatic weapon purchases

The House passed a package of firearms restrictions, including to raise the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 years old, following a series of high-profile shootings that have left scores dead nationwide.

The measure was part of a package of gun control bills known collectively as the Protecting Our Kids Act.

The chamber voted 228-199 in favor of this particular portion of the bill, with Democrats largely voting "yes" and Republicans mostly voting "no."

The lawmakers later voted on the entire package, which passed 223-205, with Two Democrats -- Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon -- voting against the legislation while five Republicans including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Chris Jacobs of New York, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Fred Upton of Michigan jumped the aisle to vote in favor of the bill.

The package now faces the obstacle of a divided Senate, which is considering its own gun legislation, and will need 10 Republicans to support it before reaching the president's desk.

In addition to increasing the age limit on the purchase of certain firearms, the legislative package would "prevent gun trafficking, modernize the prohibition on untraceable firearms [and] encourage the safe storage of firearms."

Specifically, it would ban the sale, manufacture and possession of gun magazines that hold more than 15 rounds, ensure so-called ghost guns are subject to federal regulations, create new federal offenses for gun trafficking and straw purchases and establish storage regulations as well as offer firearm storage assistance grants, among other measures.

"None of these ideas are extreme. In fact, they are what the vast majority of the people in this country want us to do," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said from the House floor. "None of these proposals are aimed at taking guns away from law-abiding gun owners. They're aimed at stopping people from getting slaughtered in their schools and churches and grocery stores and homes.

"These bills would have stopped the shooters of Buffalo and Uvalde from buying their guns."

Democrats have increased their efforts to tighten gun restrictions in the wake of the shootings but have received pushback from Republicans who argue the moves are an affront to the Second Amendment and do not tackle the root cause of the violence.

Featured Firearm

AK-47 - 1948

The AK-47 is perhaps the most widespread firearm in the world. Carried by American enemies and allies alike since 1947, it is the standard infantry weapon for 106 countries. There are an estimated 100 million AK-47s of a number of variations round the world.

Its Russian name is Avtomat Kalashnikova -- also known simply as the Kalashnikov. It was named for its inventor, Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov. It was based on a number of other designs floating around at the time, mostly Germany's Sturmgewehr-44.

But the true brilliance of Kalashnikov's invention was in its simplicity. It was designed for all-around ease of use: easy to repair, easy to unjam (if it ever does), easy to maintain. If a round is chambered in an AK-47, chances are good that weapon is going to fire.

His creation was so simple and dependable that the Soviet Union began exporting the weapon en masse. The country made so much money from exporting the weapon that Kalashnikov received special treatment in the USSR and later Russia for the rest of his life.

Did you know?

One of the oldest handguns in the world


One of the earliest pistols, this firearm was designed and produced by Peter Peck, a maker of watches and guns. The two locks combined in one mechanism provided the barrels with separate ignition. Made for Emperor Charles V (reigned 1519-56), the pistol is decorated with his dynastic and personal emblems: the double-headed eagle and the pillars of Hercules with the Latin motto PLUS ULTRA (More beyond).

The .46 caliber double-barreled pistol fires via the use of two wheellock mechanisms, one for each barrel; these were commonly used in custom-made firearms of the day, as while wheellocks were more expensive they were considered more reliable than early flintlock mechanisms or matchlocks.

In terms of aesthetics, the 5 lb. 10 oz pistol is elaborately decorated; the pistol's cherry wood stock is inlaid with ivory and staghorn, its metalwork is engraved and sheaved in gold, while the gun's grip is intricately carved.


Thanks for reading,

The Editor

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