The Assault Weapons Ban May Be Bush's Undoing

TooGood Reports ^ | 13 November 2003 | Lee R Shelton IV

[x]

George W. Bush and his neoconservative advisers have decided that their best strategy for the 2004 campaign is to focus on the "doctrine of preemption."

President Bush and his advisers have to downplay the "doctrine of preemption" because of public fears that it will mean more wars of dubious necessity or justification. After reading something like Shelton's first sentence, what's the point of going on?

[bybybill]

So, if GWB doesn`t get your toys back, you are going to help elect a Rat that will take my guns away. GREAT THINKING

[Shooter 2.5]

We shouldn't do anything that will put the dems back into power. We have a moderate from a liberal. The next time we can get Cheney or Rice.

Since Bush said he would sign it IF it reaches his desk BEFORE the election, I can't see how active the nay-sayers were if they missed hearing him say that.

Let's work together so it doesn't reach his desk.

[ArrogantBustard]

Constitution Party, or some such. Whatever subhuman piece of slime the 'Rats eventually end up nominating is sure to be something for which I could not possibly cast a vote.

Yeah, yeah ... "irrelevant, third party loser can't get elected yadayadayada..." Why should I care? The Publicans need to earn my vote.

[jdege]

I don't give a damned what he says about the AWB.

I've long since stopped expecting politicians to tell the truth.

I care about what he does and what he's done. He's done enough on the gun-rights front in the past for me to support him, and I will continue to support him until he's done something - not just said that he would do something, but actually done something - to justify removing that support.

I can't tell what's in his heart. I don't know whether he truly supports the AWB, or whether he's trying to finesse the issue. And I don't care.

If the AWB renewal fails, I'll continue to support him, regardless of what he's said, and no matter who it is that was the apparent front-runner in defeating that renewal.

If the AWB renewal passes, I will not. As I will not support any member of Congress who voted for it, regardless of party.

This seems, to me at least, to be the consensus among politically active gun owners in my community. And it's a consensus that I've done my best to bring to the attention of the politicians who represent me.

Meanwhile, I will not get wrapped around the axle over what Bush has said.

[Sender]

Agreed, I don't simply vote for someone regardless of Constitutional insult. But if Bush promotes the AW ban as part of the WOT, what is our reasonable alternative? Vote for Dean or Clark? Or, God forbid, Hillary?

[o_zarkman44]

..."a raid on a Muslim commune in central Colorado turned up bombs, automatic weapons, ammunition and plans for terrorist attacks.'

why should we be surprised? After all, they are the enemy, Not the American People.
This article was written spin fashion. It purports a need to continue the ban according to the President, and a need to follow the Constitution according to Ashcroft. Is this meant to confuse supporters of the RKBA into believing Bush doctrine is abandoning us?

[T Wayne]

Then we can VFTR!

[toomuchcoffee]

Yeah, vote for Hillary. That'll teach 'em to mess with us.

[556x45]

Its completely unclear how the AW ban would do anything to stop or hinder terroism or its operations. Id like to hear from those who believe it could.

[Rocky Mountain High]

Amen. What about the libertarians?

[GSWarrior]

I need to know why the assault weapons ban should be repealed. Is it a "slippery slope" argument?

[Kenton]

After all, such a ban would make it easier for law enforcement officers to break up terrorist organizations here in the United States. In 1993, for example, a raid on a Muslim commune in central Colorado turned up bombs, automatic weapons, ammunition and plans for terrorist attacks.

Boy, I can't wait for the ban to expire so I can get my hands on some bombs, machine guns, and terrorist plans!

I presume I'll be able to buy these items "on the streets", on the proverbial "every street corner", right?

Boy, I hope so. I hate having to go all the way to the next county where they have a gun show so I can exploit that "Gun Show Loophole" when I need bombs or Class III weaponry.

Of course, if we really wanted to take a lesson from this little anecdote, wouldn't it be to keep a closer eye on "Muslim Compounds?" Or do we only do that when it's a bunch of Christian fundie kooks living on the prairie in Texas?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[ArrogantBustard]

I've "stopped and thought" about that for two decades. If the Publicans will renew the Ugly Gun Ban, they'll eventually get around to "pass[ing] laws taking away
all firearms! " I don't particularly care whether the thugs have "R" or "D" after their names. Thug is as thug does. We got the original (imported) "assault weapons" ban courtesy of an executive order by a Publican President. X41 personnaly banned more guns than X42.

[Dan from Michigan]

Then we'll have a Clinton or Clintonlike candidate who'll take away all guns.

Maybe. Maybe not.

If Bush loses because he signed it, will the dem, KNOWING this, push for more gun grabs.
1. The dem will get hit for it by the GOP, even by those that aren't really pro, but see a partisan wedge.
2. The dem will gun grab himself into a one termer.
3. If Bush signs a gun grab and wins election, Rove will say "You signed a gun grab...and they voted for you anyway. Time for more triangulation to take the dem issues away from them"

[45Auto]

Just another RATmedia manipulation of the brainless knee-jerkers who pretend they are conservatives

Perhaps. The way I see it, if Bush totally abandons his core support, then he is not much better than the RAT-bastards who are running against him (and against America). If the AW ban is renewed or strenghthened, then I fear that it will only be a matter of time before the Republic is truly destroyed from within. Its about half way there now. The only difference between the two main parties will be the speed at which they are taking the Republic over the cliff and down into the pit of total socialism. No longer will the Repubos be able to fool the conservative core into believing that they are really different than the socialist-RATs; the facade will have been removed. The sunsetting (or not) of the ban will be a watershed moment for me. The President and the Repubos will have to make a choice.

While Bush may be re-elected by a wide margin and therefore will not need to rely on the conservative core, the question he has to ask himself is, "Do I feel Lucky?" I wonder what kind of a poker player the Pres. is?

[ArrogantBustard]

Let's work together so it doesn't reach his desk.

Absolutely. We should all be hammering our congress critters on this.