Is all the panic justified?

[newTexan]

I intend this as a serious inquiry from a person who didn't live through previous major gun control panics as a gun owner. My wife said last night that I should stock up on magazines before they were banned and/or get any guns that I really want, and my first thought was "I doubt any are in stock."

In that vein, what is the voice of reason and experience in times like this? Should we trust that cooler heads will prevail, support the NRA, contact our folks in Congress, and shy away from the panic buying? Or is this a time when those "someday" purchases really should be made because it could actually be the last chance?

[Poldark]

A bird in the hand .............

Maybe better to have than not have .............etc.

[Moby]

Yes sir I would buy them while you can.
I am. I do see the assault weapons ban returning.

[fickman]

Our hope is:
- The House of Representatives is stilled owned by the GOP
- That the NRA backing Harry Reid in 2010 pays off

In the short term, anything the executive branch can do to pester us through regulation, especially through BATFE, will be done. I expect them to try sales limits, to relentlessly audit retailers / brokers / FFLs, and to keep their illegal database populated. I somewhat expect NICS to become less efficient and lead to more manual followups. I expect them to try to harass us on private-party sales.

Then I expect them to try to hide "common sense" (read: illogical and ineffective) laws e.g. magazine capacity limits, as riders to bills that Republicans were going to support. They'll use it as a bargaining chip and try to back us into an impossible corner. They will use the fiscal cliff if they have to and will be willing to drive us straight over the edge. If that happens, they'll hold us hostage and try to force us to make concessions on guns to restore the tax climate for the middle class.

Call your representatives and encourage them to back the 2nd Amendment!

We're already seeing supposedly pro-2nd Amendment democrats who had high ratings from the NRA start to say the wrong things. The news media can't publish stories about "the debate changing" fast enough. . . they feel momentum and are trying to push as far as they can while they've got it. They're trying to move the debate to another part of the spectrum in the public domain.

I doubt ammunition is in danger. 1911s shouldn't be effected. Most 9mm semi-autos will be effected if they get the magazine restrictions through somehow. . . not the availability of the guns, just the magazines. AR-15s and AK-47s are definitely in the proverbial crosshairs.

[recaffeination]

If you're buying spares for what you already have, let your budget be your guide. If you're thinking on spennding money on something new, ask yourself why you didn't buy last month after the election, or earlier in the year, or a few years ago. I don't know your answer but I think it's a question rational people should ask themselves before joining a stampede.

[gigag04]

I see two waves...the one we are on now....and then the one as the bills become closer to be taken seriously. Obviously Feinstein's bill won't make it through anywhere as written. She knows that. We know that.

That said, I have ordered, and will continue to order 30 rd AR mags, and will pick some lowers and maybe another complete rifle sooner than later.

The last AWB took like 3 years to pass from tragedy to implementation so there is SOME time.

What scares me is the amount of gun neutral, moderate, people really having questions on ARs and AKs.

[MeMelYup]

Congress (both houses) need to take back the right to make laws. The Constitution gives only the Legislative Branch (House and Senate) the right and authority to make laws.

[ghostrider]

What scares me is the amount of gun neutral, moderate, people really having questions on ARs and AKs.

This is where education is key. I think its a combination of lack of knowledge and lack of interest in thinking for themselves - the sound bite society.

My favorite analogy is the electric car - why wouldn't we just force everyone to switch - its environmentally friendly, right?
Sure, but if they are 100% electric (as opposed to hybrid), where is the extra electric coming from to charge them? Fossil fuel plants? nuclear plants? Not to mention lithium is apparently very 'environmentally-hostile' to mine and process.