Gephardt, Kucinich Lead Fight Against Assault Weapons

Join Together, CSGV ^ | 10-10-03 | Blaine Rummell

[Dan from Michigan]

Gephardt, Kucinich Lead Fight Against Assault Weapons
10/10/2003

Press Release
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
1023 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
www.gunfree.org

Contact:
Blaine Rummel
Phone: 202-297-1149

One Year After DC-area Sniper Attacks, Presidential Candidates Co-Sponsor H.R. 2038 to Renew and Strengthen Assault Weapons Ban

Washington, DC - Congressmen Richard Gephardt (D-MO) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) have co-sponsored H.R. 2038, a bill that will renew and strengthen the federal assault weapons ban. Their support comes one year after the DC-area sniper attacks, which killed 10 and wounded three others. The legislation would stop the gun industry from manufacturing and marketing all assault weapons, including the snipers' Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle.

Though other presidential candidates have stated their support for a strengthened assault weapons ban, Reps. Gephardt and Kucinich are the only two to co-sponsor such legislation. The current ban is set to expire September 13, 2004 unless President Bush and Congress act.

"Congressmen Gephardt and Kucinich are leaders in the fight to rid America's streets of military-style assault weapons once and for all," said Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "We hope that other candidates will follow suit and co-sponsor tough and effective assault weapons ban legislation."

Why the Ban Needs To Be Strengthened
The 1994 ban outlaws specific models of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. But in a willful attempt to violate the spirit of the law, the gun industry continues to manufacture "post-ban" assault weapons - guns identical to those banned except for minor cosmetic changes. The Bushmaster XM15 used in last fall's sniper attacks, for example, is a "post-ban" version of the AR15 assault rifle, which is banned under current law.

H.R. 2038 and S. 1431, its Senate companion, will not only renew the ban, but also stop the gun industry from manufacturing "post-ban" assault weapons such as the Bushmaster XM15.

For more information on the candidates' positions on the gun violence prevention issue, visit www.CandidatesOnGuns.org.

Date of Release: October 9, 2003

[Dan from Michigan]

Time for these assclowns to get some early retirement.

Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle
Those 'snipers' had a Class III???? That's news to me.......

[jimkress]

Given that Gephardt has missed over 90% of the votes in the house, will he even be there to vote on this one?

[Dan from Michigan]

boom

[Dan from Michigan]

I hope not....

[Support Free Republic]

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our
wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
- John Adams -

Make your statement.

[tet68]

H.R. 2038 and S. 1431, its Senate companion, will not only renew the ban, but also stop the gun industry from manufacturing "post-ban" assault weapons such as the Bushmaster XM15.

If they pass this, it won't be long till they close that
pesky PRE-BAN loophole .

The writings on the wall and it doesn't say,
"Have a nice day!"

[SwinneySwitch]

"A gun is a tool like any other, as good or as bad as the man who uses it." - Shane

[South40]

[Yo-Yo]

But in a willful attempt to violate the spirit of the law, the gun industry continues to manufacture "post-ban" assault weapons - guns identical to those banned except for minor cosmetic changes. The Bushmaster XM15 used in last fall's sniper attacks, for example, is a "post-ban" version of the AR15 assault rifle, which is banned under current law.

Those so called assault rifles were banned purely on cosmetic reasons. They just looked so evil. They were banned based on what combination of cosmetic features (bayonet lug, flash suppressor, pistol grip, detachable magazine) because gun grabbers had no other rational way to identify the guns that they didn't like.

It is not only following the letter of the law but also the spirit of the law when Bushmaster elimintates the flash supressor and bayonet lug and has a legal firearm.

Let this stupid law die a natural death.

[onedoug]

Communists and the UN don't like Americans with guns.

Come and get 'em.

[Hugin]

But in a willful attempt to violate the spirit of the law, the gun industry continues to manufacture "post-ban" assault weapons - guns identical to those banned except for minor cosmetic changes.

And what exactly was the "spirit of the law"? Since it banned weapons based simply on cosmetic features, how does removing those features violate the "spirit of the law"?

[coloradan]

Because the spirit of the law was to ban all of them, and some of them unfortunately slipped through a "gaping loophole" that gun grabbers suddenly realized existed, right after the law was enacted.

[Hugin]

Yes those evil gunmakers cunningly foiled the gun-grabbers by complying with the law. Just shows how tricky they are.

[OldPossum]

What irritates me is the gross ignorance of the anti-gun crowd. The "snipers" used a .223, which is a powerful round, to be sure, but if these anti-gun types were to ever compare it to a common hunting round (I have in mind the .30-.30, .30-.06 and the .300 magnum), they would be astounded. They have no idea of the power of hunting rifles. "Assault weapons" by comparison are kind of puny.

[SwinneySwitch]

The 2nd ammendment wasn't written for sportsmen.

Since 2003-10-13?

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't know anyone who hunts with an Uzi.

The 2nd Amendment has nothing whatsoever to do with hunting.

[Dan from Michigan]

Common sense is Federalist 46th.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

I know the second amendment was not written for sportsmen, but it wasn't written for gangsters and thugs either.

Gangsters and thugs kill with knives, baseball bats, poison, cars, rope, axes, blowtorches, numchuks, boxcutters, pipes, icepicks as well as guns. Honest people do not. Should we ban all of these things?