You knew it was going to happen. Anytime someone uses an AR-15 for anything bad, the left decides to trot out its latest version of the assault weapon ban. They’re so panicky, they just can’t help themselves but to try and legislate away their personal boogeyman.

This time, the proposal would wipe out an entire industry if it were to pass.

House Democrats have introduced a bill banning semi-automatic firearms in the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla.

Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., announced Monday he is introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018. More than 150 Democrats have signed on in support of the legislation, Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said.

“Today I joined @RepCicilline and 150+ of my colleagues to introduce the assault weapons ban. It’s time for Congress to listen to the will of a majority of Americans and pass sensible legislation to get these weapons of war off our streets. #NeverAgain #MSDStrong,” Deutch tweeted.

The bill prohibits the “sale, transfer, production, and importation” of semi-automatic rifles and pistols that can hold a detachable magazine, as well as semi-automatic rifles with a magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds. Additionally, the legislation bans the sale, transfer, production, and importation of semi-automatic shotguns with features such as a pistol grip or detachable stock, and ammunition feeding devices that can hold more than 10 rounds.

Cicilline’s legislation names 205 specific firearms that are prohibited, including the AK-47 and AR-15.

Yep. It’s that time of year again.

Of course, this is most likely nothing more than political grandstanding. This is Cicilline trying to buff up his progressive street cred.

Despite recent squishiness on the part of congressional Republicans on gun rights, there’s no way I see them backing legislation nearly as sweeping. This basically kills every single semi-auto handgun on the market and a whole plethora of semi-automatic rifles. While a handful would probably survive this legislation, they’re the exception, not the rule.

In the process, say goodbye to the better part of the firearm industry. Think of all the companies that don’t make anything but firearms with detachable magazines. Glock and H&K are two of the better-known brands that will no longer be allowed to sell in the United States.

And for what?

The last assault weapon ban accomplished nothing at all. It didn’t even create a blip on the crime rates, and neither would this one.

So-called assault weapons are rarely used in crimes. This bill is only being presented now because of a tiny subset of crimes that garner headlines but are still an anomaly.

But I guess this is what passes for “common sense gun control,” banning a massive swath of popular firearms, including semi-automatic pistols that have been in common usage for decades as the violent crime rate dropped. 

It’s not about crime. It has never been about crime. Not for someone like Cicilline. No, for someone like him, it’s about smoke and mirrors. No amount of fact will dissuade him because he doesn’t care about the facts. What he cares about is making people think he cares.

He doesn’t.

If he did, then perhaps he’d not try to wrap up the vast majority of firearms on the market in his ban bill. Maybe, if he actually cared, he’d look for real solutions rather than a bill that has less of a chance of passing as a bill requiring FLOTUS to wear a burka.