NRA Says New Florida Law Would Take Away Rifles From '10-Year-Old Little Girls' on Their Birthdays

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by Naurgul

As Florida lawmakers prepare to vote an a potential ban of assault weapons next year, the National Rifle Association's (NRA) top lobbyist for the state said the law would affect children who, all of a sudden, could not shoot rifles on their birthdays.

Marion Hammer, the chief NRA lobbyist, met with a group of economists in Florida on Friday to oppose the proposed ban of assault weapons, according to Shareblue Media. She asked if a little girl who wanted to shoot a rifle with a pink stock would be convicted of a felony.

"How do you tell a 10-year-old little girl who got a Ruger 10/22 with a pink stock for her birthday that her rifle is an assault weapon and she has to turn it over to government or be arrested for felony possession?" Hammer asked at the meeting.

Hammer is one of the most influential gun lobbyists in the country, and Florida has been her turf for about four decades, according to The New Yorker.

Opponents of the proposed Florida ban, including the NRA and other gun advocate groups, say the law is too broad.

Ashley Moody, the state's attorney general leading the opposition against the proposal, also stated she believes the verbiage is too broad, Shareblue reported.

Hammer continues to lead the NRA's charge in the state, something she has done for a long time.

"Her policies have elevated Florida's gun owners to a uniquely privileged status, and made the public carrying of firearms a fact of daily life in the state," The New Yorker wrote.

After the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, in which 19-year-old Nicholas Cruz opened fire with a legally-purchased AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and killed 17 people, a statewide push began to ban assault weapons. A grassroots group called Ban Assault Weapons Now collected more than 100,000 signatures to get it on a ballot. The group is led by the aunt of one of the victims killed in Parkland.

Behind the push to oppose any gun control measures after Parkland was Hammer, who even attacked Republicans—calling them "GOP betrayers"—if they supported certain gun control laws after the massacre gripped the nation, especially Florida.

Now while working to oppose the proposed ban on assault weapons, Hammer is adding to her legacy by saying that 10-year-old little girls wouldn't be able to shoot rifles on their birthdays, nor would any children.

bga93 on August 17th, 2019 at 15:11 UTC »

What they’re trying to say: the ruger 10/22 is a common starter rifle for teaching children to handle and shoot firearms safely due to its light weight, low caliber and simple operation and it would be banned under the premise that it is a semi-auto with a detachable magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. that is capable of accepting a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds

What they actually said: i dont know

AsterDW on August 17th, 2019 at 14:39 UTC »

Did I miss in the article where the author detailed what the language of the proposed ban is? Kind of the most important question here is what the proposal actually is and is what Hammer says about this true or not. Shit reporting.

Florida's amendment.

And Politifact seems to have a better article trying to discuss the actual potential effects

Sariel007 on August 17th, 2019 at 12:45 UTC »

Here is where your NRA donations and fees go.

NRA Spent Tens of Thousands on Hair and Makeup for CEO’s Wife