Originally published at Notes From The Bunker. You can comment here or there.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ latest crack at a new assault weapons ban would protect more than 2,200 specific firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle that is nearly identical to one of the guns used in the bloodiest shootout in FBI history.

One model of that firearm, the Ruger .223 caliber Mini-14, is on the proposed list to be banned, while a different model of the same gun is on a list of exempted firearms in legislation the Senate is considering. The gun that would be protected from the ban has fixed physical features and can’t be folded to be more compact. Yet the two firearms are equally deadly.

“What a joke,” said former FBI agent John Hanlon, who survived the 1986 shootout in Miami. He was shot in the head, hand, groin and hip with a Ruger Mini-14 that had a folding stock. Two FBI agents died and five others were wounded.

Hanlon recalled lying on the street as brass bullet casings showered on him. He thought the shooter had an automatic weapon.

Both models of the Ruger Mini-14 specified in the proposed bill can take detachable magazines that hold dozens of rounds of ammunition. “I can’t imagine what the difference is,” Hanlon said.

I’m not the first one to point out that Feinstein’s dream list featured one model of Mini-14 while ignoring the rest.  This is just further proof that the people doing this idiocy are clueless morons. Nothing proves the absurdity of these ‘feature’-specific bans like putting a Ruger Mini-14 or 10/22 on a table next to its pimped out version and asking folks to spot the assault weapon.

I actually like the Mini-14 very much. I’ve found them to be very reliable but rather inaccurate. The newer models supposedly are more accurate, but with the advent of gas-piston AR’s, the reliability is about the same but the AR wins for ergonomics and modularity.

But, were I trapped in a place that thought pistol grips and flash hiders were a fast-ticket to the greybar Hilton, I’d probably take one and not look back.

Since this bill exempts particular guns by name, some manufacturer needs to market a single-shot .22 and give it a distinct name..AR-2013, or some such….and get it added to the list. Then, if theban goes through, transfer the name to a regular AR and see if that makes anyone start foaming at the mouth.