I don't want to get in someones face and argue gun control laws because I have done it in the past - partially profesionally and have no desire to do it again.
But I thought I would add a little background if anyone is interested so everyone can be on the same page. I really don't get upset at people who want gun control, I get upset when I watch the media who talk out of their ass about firearms and existing laws.
The item that holds the cartridges and is removable on a firearm such as a modern semi automatic handgun or a rifle like the AR-15 is a magazine, it's not a clip. A "clip" is actually something else entirely, it's a metal device that holds cartridges at the rear and then you put use it to load the firearm but the clip stays out of the gun. Small thing, but lets get on the same page.
The past AWB (assault weapon ban) banned certain properties of semi automatic firearms, it passed in 1994 (was a contributing factor to the democrats losing the house) and expired in 2004. It banned a variety of items depending on the model of the firearm. Some states such as CA still have a state AWB. Because most of the items banned were appearance based you can work around most of them. Some of the restrictions were also magazine capacity. After the ban expired there is no federal limit, 30 and 20 round are standard sizes for the AR-15 (with 20 being from the vietnam era and pretty handy for shooting off a bench because it's short enough the rifle doesn't sit on it) , you can use 100 round beta mags if you want. Several states however limit them to a max capacity.
The AR in AR-15 refers to the company who invented and first made them. Armalite. AR= Armalite Rifle, not assault rifle 15.
Standard AR-15 with pistol grip, 30 round magazine, flash hider (which is used to hide the flash from the person shooting it, not the person being shot at which is another one movies and media get wrong a lot)
California AWB compliant AR-15, no pistol grip, no telescoping stock etc...
Assault weapons - controlled by the 1934 National Firearms Act. To legally obtain a fully automatic/selective fire (burst, full auto) weapon in the US a person must have a sign off of a controlling law enforecement agent in their area such as a DA, sheriff, police chief etc...then apply to the ATF and pay the $200 tax stamp. If you travel across state lines with that weapon the ATF must be notified in advance along with other restrictions. Other items that require similar treatment under the act include supressors (they are not silencers), short barreled rifles/shotguns which have a barrel length less than 16" and destructive devices. You don't go out and just buy a suppresor or whatever else. Typical paperwork and background check typically takes 6 months give or take.
After the assasinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy the 1969 Firearms Control Act was passed with the biggest change being you could no longer purchase firearms via mail order. You can still order a firearm thru the mail/internet but it now has to be delivered to a FFL (holder of a federal firearms license IE a dealer) to do the 4474 transfer paperwork. The only firearms you can currently order via mail and have delivered to your home are antiques and muzzleloaders/precussion type firearms. The only other that I am aware of is if you buy a firearm from the CMP (Civilian Marskmanship Program) which was setup as a quasi government entity to promote marksmanship among citizens and dispose of surplus military rifles if you qualify (a long list of stuff such as having been in the military, proof of a training program etc...) you can order a military suruplus M1 or a variety of other guns from them and have it shipped to your home via FedEx.
I'm sure there are lots of other stuff I am leaving out but these are the major ones I see a lot on the news that they totally miss. Also even tho you are not requried to fill out a 4473 and do a background check on a private sale (citizen to citizen of a firearm) it is still illegal to knowingly sell (and for that matter buy for someone) a firearm to someone who can not legally own/purchase a firearm.
