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TheBlaze Fact-Checks Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Anti-Gun Claims Made During Senate Committee Hearing

Feb. 27, 2013 5:45pm Jason Howerton

Sen. Feinstein Claims U.S. Has Witnessed an Increased Number of Mass Shootings During Gun Control Hearing

With photos of Sandy Hook Elementary School victims in the background, Senate Judiciary Committee member, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. speaks on on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. during the committee’s hearing on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013. Credit: AP

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) made her case in favor of gun control during a packed hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The hearing was called to debate Feinstein’s proposed a ban on so-called “assault weapons.”

“Let me now describe the key features of our new legislation, the ‘Assault Weapons Ban of 2013,’” Feinstein said Wednesday. “The bill bans the sale, transfer, importation, and manufacturing of 157 specifically named semi-automatic assault weapons.”

She continued: “It also bans any other assault weapon, which is defined as a semi-automatic weapon that can accept a detachable magazine and has one military characteristic, such as a pistol grip, barrel shroud, or folding stock…These features were developed for military weapons to make them more effective and efficient at killing people in close-combat situations.”

Feinstein, with photos of Sandy Hook victims behind her, argued that the U.S. has “witnessed an increased number of these mass killings” and called semi-automatic “assault weapons” the one “common thread running through these mass shootings.” She says the gun ban is needed in order to prevent future tragedies.

“Sadly, [Newtown] is not an anomaly,” Feinstein said. “We have witnessed an increased number of these mass killings. The one common thread running through these mass shootings — from Aurora, Colorado, to Tucson, Arizona, to Blacksburg, Virginia — is that the gunman used a military-style semi-automatic assault weapon or a large capacity magazine to inflict unspeakable terror.”

But do the facts support Feinstein’s argument?

Let’s start with the claim that mass killings are on the rise in the United States. According to the Associated Press, those who study mass shootings say they are not becoming more common.

“There is no pattern, there is no increase,” says criminologist James Allen Fox of Boston’s Northeastern University, who has been studying the subject since the 1980s, spurred by a rash of mass shootings in post offices.

Grant Duwe, a criminologist with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who has written a history of mass murders in America, said that while mass shootings rose between the 1960s and the 1990s, they actually dropped in the 2000s. And mass killings actually reached their peak in 1929, according to his data. He estimates that there were 32 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 26 in the first decade of the century.

Chances of being killed in a mass shooting, he says, are probably no greater than being struck by lightning.

“Without minimizing the pain and suffering of the hundreds…who have been victimized in senseless attacks, the facts say clearly that [there] has been no increase in mass killings,” Fox wrote. When clusters of incidents occur close together, he added, that likely reflects a mixture of copycatting and coincidence.

(Source: Reason.com)

Many anti-gun advocates have noted that six of the 12 deadliest shootings in U.S. history have occurred since 2007, with the Newtown massacre ranking second on that list. However, mass killings, in fact, peaked in 1929.

Feinstein also argued that banning so-called “assault weapons” would help decrease mass shootings.

A study by the University of Pennsylvania concluded that the old assault weapons ban was undermined because it is difficult to define what an “assault weapon” actually is and there were already so many in circulation. The study also concluded that the law appeared to have little effect on gun violence overall, most likely because rifles are used in a small percentage of gun crimes.

Consider this, hands and feet, knifes, shotguns, and handguns all killed more people than rifles in 2010. According to FBI data, 358 people were killed by rifles that year, half that of people who were killed by “hands and feet.”

(Source: Washington Examiner/FBI)

Finally, Feinstein argued that semi-automatic “assault weapons” were the “common thread” in mass shootings. While Newtown shooter Adam Lanza reportedly used a semi-automatic rifle during his rampage, Aurora shooter James Holmes’ AR-15 reportedly jammed. Holmes also had two Glock pistols and a shotgun, according to reports.

Tucson shooter Jared Loughner reportedly used a Glock 19 pistol with an extended 30-round magazine. All magazines with more than 10 rounds would be banned under Feinstein’s bill.

These are just a few examples, however, to insist that only so-called “assault weapons” are used in mass shootings would not be accurate.

In a previous Blaze report, Jordan Hunter, director of marketing for Daniel Defense, said a semi-automatic rifle is not the weapon most commonly used in mass shootings.

“We tracked 62 mass shootings wherein 5 or more people were either shot or killed from the early 1980’s to now; 41 times pistols were used, 12 times shotguns or some type of hunting-style rifle was used, and 9 times semi-automatic rifles were used (14 percent),” Hunter told TheBlaze.

Overall, Feinstein’s claims — the basis of her gun ban — don’t appear to hold up under scrutiny.

However, it may be important to note that Sen. Feinstein’s bill refers to certain types of handguns and shotguns as “assault weapons.”

Take a look at the full list of weapons that would be banned under the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2013.”

Rifles: All AK types, including the following: AK, AK47, AK47S, AK–74, AKM, AKS, ARM, MAK90, MISR, NHM90, NHM91, Rock River Arms LAR–47, SA85, SA93, Vector Arms AK–47, VEPR, WASR–10, and WUM, IZHMASH Saiga AK, MAADI AK47 and ARM, Norinco 56S, 56S2, 84S, and 86S, Poly Technologies AK47 and AKS; All AR types, including the following: AR–10, AR–15, Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, Armalite M15–T, Barrett REC7, Beretta AR–70, Bushmaster ACR, Bushmaster Carbon 15, Bushmaster MOE series, Bushmaster XM15, Colt Match Target Rifles, DoubleStar AR rifles, DPMS Tactical Rifles, Heckler & Koch MR556, Olympic Arms, Remington R–15 rifles, Rock River Arms LAR–15, Sig Sauer SIG516 rifles, Smith & Wesson M&P15 Rifles, Stag Arms AR rifles, Sturm, Ruger & Co. SR556 rifles; Barrett M107A1; Barrett M82A1; Beretta CX4 Storm; Calico Liberty Series; CETME Sporter; Daewoo K–1, K–2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C; Fabrique Nationale/FN Herstal FAL, LAR, 22 FNC, 308 Match, L1A1 Sporter, PS90, SCAR, and FS2000; Feather Industries AT–9; Galil Model AR and Model ARM; Hi-Point Carbine; HK–91, HK–93, HK–94, HK–PSG–1 and HK USC; Kel-Tec Sub–2000, SU–16, and RFB; SIG AMT, SIG PE–57, Sig Sauer SG 550, and Sig Sauer SG 551; Springfield Armory SAR–48; Steyr AUG; Sturm, Ruger Mini-14 Tactical Rife M–14/20CF; All Thompson rifles, including the following: Thompson M1SB, Thompson T1100D, Thompson T150D, Thompson T1B, Thompson T1B100D, Thompson T1B50D, Thompson T1BSB, Thompson T1–C, Thompson T1D, Thompson T1SB, Thompson T5, Thompson T5100D, Thompson TM1, Thompson TM1C; UMAREX UZI Rifle; UZI Mini Carbine, UZI Model A Carbine, and UZI Model B Carbine; Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78; Vector Arms UZI Type; Weaver Arms Nighthawk; Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine.

Pistols: All AK–47 types, including the following: Centurion 39 AK pistol, Draco AK–47 pistol, HCR AK–47 pistol, IO Inc. Hellpup AK–47 pistol, Krinkov pistol, Mini Draco AK–47 pistol, Yugo Krebs Krink pistol; All AR–15 types, including the following: American Spirit AR–15 pistol, Bushmaster Carbon 15 pistol, DoubleStar Corporation AR pistol, DPMS AR–15 pistol, Olympic Arms AR–15 pistol, Rock River Arms LAR 15 pistol; Calico Liberty pistols; DSA SA58 PKP FAL pistol; Encom MP–9 and MP–45; Heckler & Koch model SP-89 pistol; Intratec AB–10, TEC–22 Scorpion, TEC–9, and TEC–DC9; Kel-Tec PLR 16 pistol; The following MAC types: MAC–10, MAC–11; Masterpiece Arms MPA A930 Mini Pistol, MPA460 Pistol, MPA Tactical Pistol, and MPA Mini Tactical Pistol; Military Armament Corp. Ingram M–11, Velocity Arms VMAC; Sig Sauer P556 pistol; Sites Spectre; All Thompson types, including the following: Thompson TA510D, Thompson TA5; All UZI types, including: Micro-UZI.

Shotguns: Franchi LAW–12 and SPAS 12; All IZHMASH Saiga 12 types, including the following: IZHMASH Saiga 12, IZHMASH Saiga 12S, IZHMASH Saiga 12S EXP–01, IZHMASH Saiga 12K, IZHMASH Saiga 12K–030, IZHMASH Saiga 12K–040 Taktika; Streetsweeper; Striker 12.

Belt-fed semiautomatic firearms: All belt-fed semiautomatic firearms including TNW M2HB.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (320)

g56
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 2:21pm
There is no such thing as a semi automatic assault weapon, an assault weapon by definition is fully automatic, not semi automatic, so here entire bill is BS on its face. In addition, she says she doesn’t want to ban hunting guns, but I’ve been hunting for the last 15 yrs with an AR15, and the AR15 is now the most popular hunting rifle in the US, so again she’s lying. Feinstein is contemptible, a lying politician that just wants to ban things and control people, she must be stopped in her ill conceived attempt to harm the American people.

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PotatoJoe
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 1:26pm
I think that I could have unwittingly saved Diane Feinstein’s life today….I ran over a **** eating dog! I cannot stand her trying to take away our rights. I wish her the worst!

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jcvillar
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 12:53pm
The only “common thread” between these shootings is that they occurred in places where weapons are banned.

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Commonsensical
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 12:38am
Start stocking up on tar, feathers, and ROPE people!!! It’s almost time! Thomas Jefferson was right, and the tree needs to be watered!

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54smom
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:45pm
@Keaton
never mess with a country girl. Guns or not she will kick your ****!

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dylan
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:46pm
I have my concealed carry enhanced and am in the process of having a sterile AR 15 custom made for my use. Happy day!

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themusicplace61
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:29pm
We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the Courts-not to overthrow the ”CONSTITUTION”,but to overthrow the men who pervent the ”CONSTITUTION” !!!!!

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dnewton
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:28pm
Why is there no sympathy for this woman? Her time is short and her master will soon be thrown into the Lake of Fire.

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Bikkiboo
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 7:14pm
Isn’t “assault weapon” an oxymoron? Aren’t all weapons for assault? Even your hands, feet, and head could be “assault weapons” if they’re used to assault someone. So, that term is useless. How about “semi-automatic”? What exactly is that? I assume an automatic gun keeps shooting if you press and hold the trigger. I guess semi-automatic means you have to keep pulling the trigger, then neither must mean you have to re-load or pump somehow to ready a bullet to fire. That must mean muskets or pump shotguns. I have no problem limiting automatic weapons to military use, but it seems that semi-automatic is really the only practical type, so why outlaw it? How about instead of banning these weapons, we follow the lead of Switzerland or Israel and train every 18 year old to use one and keep it as part of a “home guard” program. The guns could be registered and firing patterns taken of their barrels, so authorities could trace bullets used in crimes right back to the owners. True, some mentally ill people & criminals might get them, but that should be checked for at the training programs. Plus, if everyone is armed and guns are traceable, criminals aren’t as likely to commit gun-type crimes. That’s what the record in those countries show.

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FOTOSHOT
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 6:29pm
Hey Feinstein change your DEPEND’s they are overflowing. I was born and raised in your home state ( CALIFORNIA A SOCIALIST SINKHOLE ) and moved out over thirty years ago. You should do something about all violent criminals that do no or very little time because of overcrowding in the California prision system. I’m sure that you helped arm all the police so they are not outgunned. California crime rate sucks, and the restrictive gun laws don’t work.

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TruthDarts
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:18pm
WOW…leave it to a liberal on this page that only quotes half of the story on Australia & Canada banning guns.

Australia Liberals passed laws that banned all guns, even old gun collections of inoperable and GUESS WHAT ?

the CRIMINALS DID NOT GIVE UP THEIR GUNS…
&
NOW CRIMINALS KNOW most citizens ARE NOT ARMED !

Wow imagine the surprise when HOME INVASION WENT UP BY 600%

DUH!
Only the BRAIN DEAD think disarming regular citizens will stop violence…

they are just aiding CRIMINALS to ATTACK WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING SHOT AT…

Women to be attacked without having a way to defend against rape…
Farmers or homeowners no way to defend themselves or their property along Mexican border..
etc.
etc.
…great job there LIBERAL NON-THINKERS !

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3BlueStars
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 3:06pm
The point is NOT whether semi-automatic weapons were used in mass killings or whether it was any other kind of “weapon”. The POINT IS that whatever the mass murderer has and uses, MUST be available to law-abiding citizens to defend themselves. We must AT LEAST have the ability to arm ourselves comparably to those who would assault us whether or not we CHOOSE to be so armed. This also presupposes that we are “allowed” (this is not the correct word since we have an inalienable RIGHT to life and defense of our life) to have our means of defense available to us wherever assailants have their weapons ready to assault us.

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wm.c
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:36pm
Will there ever be an end to these Liberals who only have one focus – to get their own way, by hook or by crook…distorting information so that they will always appear to be the hero and winning the public opinion with lies?

Why can’t they simply put something on the table which is supported by facts and its own merits rather than toss their slanted opinion into the arena and distort the truth to meet their agenda?

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Vilgax
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:24pm
“If you were in a stand-off with the federal government, would you let your children out to fight another day or would you let them die?” I suppose that’s what six million Jews thought when they had no guns and they got on the train.

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Roundup_Logan
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:45pm
The way I see it, the whole crux of the matter is we have a 2nd Amendment to our Constitution that says our ability to own firearms will not be infringed. Those that don’t like that should take up their cause, propose a constitutional amendment and get 2/3rd’s of the states to ratify it. Then and only then will it be the law of the land. EVERYTHING else these lawmakers do is unconstitutional. I don’t give a rip about U.K. or Australia – I don’t live there. The government can’t take away rights it never granted in the first place. Self protection was endowed to us by our Creator. Only by His authority can that be taken away. The constitution guarantees that. Feinstein should STFU before she starts something they may regret. And I don’t believe the Supreme Court is the final arbitor on this matter, it’s We the People who have the final say so.

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rx4nv
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:42pm
14% of the time an “assault” weapon was used in the last 62 mass shootings. Common thread?

100% of the time a psychologically disturbed person was behind the weapon used in the last 62 mass shootings. Now that is a common thread!

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lvjohn
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:17pm
I hope that this senile old hag drops over dead from a heart seizure,

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avguy69
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:09pm
How can one Sen. think they have the right to write and ram a Gun control bill down all Americans throats! I think the time has come for term limits in the Senate and the House. When you are almost 80 years old it’s time to hand over the reins.

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TyrannyNoMore
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:01pm
Telling me how many bullets I can have in a magazine, for the purposes of protecting my family and property from a tyrannical regime, is like telling me I can’t keep a (larger) fire extinguisher in my home, in case of fire !

Trying to limit gun violence by taking away my right to own semi-automatics and large magazines, is like trying to stop drunk driving by taking cars away from sober people.

Ted Kennedy’s Oldsmobile has killed more people than my guns.

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OK3SCREWBIRD
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:55am
Banjarmon, you are so right. SSRI’s are the one Common Thread in these incidents. If you haven’t already, check out http://www.ssristories.com and see how right you are.

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beardedjesse
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:51am
Hell, this article even gave colorful pictures, graphs & flow charts for the less intelligent to understand & yet they still come on here & go, well uh, its a lie. The real drones everyone should be worried about in this country are the ones walking around being created by MSNBC talking points Liberals not the ones they’re trying to fly over private property…

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