Posted on 05/14/2009 3:34:48 AM PDT by Man50D
An April 7 report from the Department of Homeland Security branding some conservative groups as “rightwing extremists” is enough reason to revive former President Bill Clinton’s idea of an assault-weapons ban, according to an executive of a gun-control group--the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
"I think it certainly helps to make that case because what that report suggests is that there is a rise in the kind of paramilitary activity that we saw actually in years before the Oklahoma City bombing,” Dennis Henigan, the vice president for law and policy at the Brady Center, told CNSNews.com Wednesday
Henigan talked about the years before the 1995 Oklahoma City tragedy--when “rightwing extremist militia groups (were) out training with assault weapons, training for war against the United States government, training to shoot federal law enforcement,” he said.
“Now, unfortunately there is very credible evidence that that is beginning to happen again,” Henigan added later. “So, there is no place on our streets for these kinds of military weapons.”
He described assault weapons as being “designed for war,” adding that, “they are designed basically to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible in a battlefield situation.”
Henigan spoke to CNSNews.com after he testified before a House subcommittee on Capitol Hill in support of the No Fly, No Buy Act of 2009, sponsored by New York Democratic Reps. Carolyn McCarthy and Steve Israel.
Neither McCarthy nor Israel answered inquiries from CNSNews.com to comment on Heinigan's comment.
The legislation, which is still in draft form and has not been introduced yet, is aimed at keeping individuals that are on the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration “no fly list” from being able to purchase guns. The “no fly list” is aimed at keeping suspected terrorists off planes.
In response to Henigan’s comments, the National Rifle Association told CNSNews.com that the Brady Center was “exploiting” the DHS report to push its “political agenda.”
“Mr. Henigan’s employer has been trying to re-enact this gun ban by exploiting the tragic situation that’s occurring in Mexico right now as a result of violence by drug cartels,” NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam told CNSNews.com.
“Now he’s using a report that was widely criticized by various people as being insulting to our veterans and I think this is just further proof they will say anything and will do anything to push their political agenda with little or no regard for fact,” he added.
The NRA spokesman further pointed out that during the 10 years when the assault weapons ban was the law, studies show, the ban was ineffective.
“Numerous studies, without including studies commissioned by the Clinton Justice Department--in every single one of those studies it was found that the ban was worthless,” Arulanandam told CNSnews.com.
“As a result, 10 years after this law was enacted, it was allowed to expire,” he added.
In April, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano released a report warning that “right-wing extremists” were “gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues”--including the election of President Obama and “the economic downturn.”
The report, which is considered insulting by many conservatives, warns of the dangers of “anti-government” groups and others “in opposition to abortion or immigration”--as well as returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, who, it said “face significant challenges reintegrating into their communities.”
According to the report: “Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of rightwing extremist groups, as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government.”
The report added that the “high volume” of purchases and “stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions” in some parts of the country has become “a primary concern” for law enforcement.
I think it certainly helps to make that case because what that report suggests is that there is a rise in the kind of paramilitary activity that we saw actually in years before the Oklahoma City bombing,” Dennis Henigan, the vice president for law and policy at the Brady Center, told CNSNews.com Wednesday
These people are such idiots.
Like there were no gun laws or other laws then when these groups were active. If they are CRIMINALS they do not give a rats ass how many gun laws you pass.They will get guns and they will kill citizens. Its the CITIZENS that lose when yourestrict their ability to own a gun as granted in the US Constitution...
Of course he uses an assault-Oldsmobile.
“Henigan talked about the years before the 1995 Oklahoma City tragedy—when “rightwing extremist militia groups (were) out training with assault weapons, training for war against the United States government, training to shoot federal law enforcement,” he said.
“Now, unfortunately there is very credible evidence that that is beginning to happen again,” Henigan added later. “So, there is no place on our streets for these kinds of military weapons.”
He described assault weapons as being “designed for war,” adding that, “they are designed basically to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible in a battlefield situation.”
How stupid can you hope people are? Ummm, I don’t think the federal building was brought down by “assault weapons”.
Nor can you buy those types of weapons, legally, for home use. Military weapons are not on our streets.
I am sure Mr. Henigan knows all of this but chooses to be the bearer of stupidity and bs.
Too many people do not have the first clue what the hail they are talking about.
LLS
Big surprize. NAMBLA would say that the large numbers of perverts roaming the streets makes the case for legalizing child sodomy.
“Nor can you buy those types of weapons, legally, for home use.”
Actually, you can buy and own almost every type of weapon, as long as you file the paperwork and pay the enormous “tax”. I don’t have the actual numbers right at hand, but there are tens if not hundreds of thousands of fully automatic machine guns in private collectors hands. Two things are obvious from this fact. The first is that none of those weapons has been used in a crime, and the second is that there is a huge inflation in the price of those weapons because of the limited availability. A full auto M16, for example, probably costs the military less than $600.00. On the collectors market you will be paying $16,000.00 or more to purchase one.
You think there are that many in private hands?
Wow. I truly had no idea those kinds of numbers were out there, primarily because of the high prices.
I certainly couldn’t afford $16,000.
And you certainly won’t get them from Cabellas.
Thanks for the info.
Their only purpose is to ban guns in the hands of law abising citizens. They’ll twist anything for that purpose.
“The first is that none of those weapons has been used in a crime,’
One was used in a crime, by an off duty FBI agent.
I wish I had one.
Once the communists gain power, their enemies are always internal.
“I think it certainly helps to make that case because what that report suggests is that there is a rise in the kind of paramilitary activity that we saw actually in years before the Oklahoma City bombing,?
Who knew ? McVeight turned assault weapons into a fertizler bomb that blow up the federal building
That’s one smart SOB.
The high prices were not always there. Class III buyers were able to help keep military and law enforcement prices down by purchasing the same weapons (albeit with greater restrictions)for only a few hundred dollars.
It was the federal ban (thanks, Bill Bennett) on the manufacture or conversion of new fully automatic weapons for civilian purchase that drove the price up. The pool is now a fixed size, so the prices keep getting bid up.
It was a great investment route. You could purchase an M16 for $2000 and sell it for $15000 a few years later.
The inflation rate has slowed now, but some of us are sitting on a huge nest egg.
Little wonder that gun and ammo sales are through the roof.
Kind ironic that the dim party is always “for the people” and when they get in power they turn on the people. This is obviously driven by fear of the people. What are they afraid of?
I'll see if I can find the numbers, but yes, there are a lot of class 3 firearms. Prior to the “gun control act of 68”, there were no restrictions on owning full auto weapons, and tens of thousands were brought home as war souvenirs.
The actual fee for buying the weapon is $200.00. However, only weapons manufactured prior to May 1988 are legal to own, hence the limited supply and huge demand. I checked a few prices, and an M16 will run from $15,000.00 to $25,000.00. Obama really has been great for gun sales.
It's all a huge power grab, and they fear an armed populace.
These types always fear armed citizens.
Sadly, the M16A2 is not really full auto anymore. On auto it fires three-round auto bursts as I recall. A Navy guy informed me the M14 he fired during practice on board his ship was semi-auto. It may be an accuracy thing.
So-called "assault weapons" are exactly what the citizens should have, and they should know how to use them. I suppose that a heavily armed populace is a threat to the fascists that make up the left, and it should be. When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny. The left wants the latter; we want the former.
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