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Assault Weapons Ban Battle Heats Up; With 200 Days Left, Advocates Kick off Fight to Save Ban
releases.usnewswire.com ^

Posted on 02/23/2004 9:22:44 AM PST by chance33_98

Assault Weapons Ban Battle Heats Up; With 200 Days Left, Gun Safety Advocates Kick off Fight to Save Ban; McCarthy Available for Interviews

2/23/04 10:40:00 AM

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To: National and Assignment Desks

Contact: Scott Rowson of the office of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, 202-225-5516, 703-505-1613 (cell), scott.rowson@mail.house.gov

MINEOLA, N.Y., Feb. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Standing near the site of one of the most shocking incidents of gun violence in American history, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) today kicked off a national campaign to improve and renew the federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expires on Sept. 13. McCarthy pledged an "all-out fight" to renew the law.

"I was elected to Congress to do one thing: reduce gun violence in this country. Since the mid-1990's we've made great strides, but some in Congress seem to want to go backwards on this critical issue of public safety. If we don't act soon, AK-47s and UZIs will once again be available to cop-killing criminals and terrorists," McCarthy said.

"I can't believe that with 31 Americans being murdered with guns every day we would put assault weapons back on the streets. So many families have been torn apart by these weapons of war. Our police officers, routinely outgunned ten years ago, will suffer the consequences of inaction. This will be an all out fight to renew the assault weapons ban," McCarthy added.

Bolstered by widespread public support and police groups around the country, the federal Assault Weapons Ban went into effect in 1994, banning dozens of military-style assault weapons. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice found the Assault Weapons Ban contributed to "a decrease in criminal use of the banned weapons," fewer killings of police officers by the guns, and a reduction in overall homicides.

Rep. McCarthy was joined by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who helped write the original Assault Weapons Ban while serving in the House of Representatives. "I hope the President will put the power of his office behind this legislation and that we'll be standing in the Rose Garden next September watching him sign the bill renewing the ban before it expires," Schumer said.

------

Background:

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's husband was killed and son injured in the Long Island Rail Road shooting of 1993. She ran for and was elected to Congress in 1996 after her Representative voted to repeal the ban on assault weapons.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: awban; bang
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1 posted on 02/23/2004 9:22:47 AM PST by chance33_98
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To: chance33_98
Such ridiculous hysteria..

But, can we stop these guys?
2 posted on 02/23/2004 9:24:17 AM PST by Monty22
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To: chance33_98
In Georgia, one of the anti-gun Rats introduced legislation to outlaw AW's. I particularly like this line:

(B) Unless the person is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, immediately register the assault weapon with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation

where they are being careful not to step on the rights of felons by making sure that ONLY LAW ABIDING CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER THEIR ASSAULT WEAPONS.

3 posted on 02/23/2004 9:28:35 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: chance33_98
"I can't believe that with 31 Americans being murdered with guns every day we would put assault weapons back on the streets. So many families have been torn apart by these weapons of war. Our police officers, routinely outgunned ten years ago, will suffer the consequences of inaction. This will be an all out fight to renew the assault weapons ban," McCarthy added.

Yes of course...and never mind how many lives are saved...by those homeowners who have guns or how many crimes stopped because potential perps are scared into inactivity...

Never mind that in England for example...violent crime is rampant...more so than any past years as is the case in every nation that has outlawed private gun ownership... BTW in those 31 Americans killed by guns....how many were killed by "Assault" style rifles... (These are not assault rifles per se ...but only semi automatic 'look alikes' that are in-accuratelybeing called assault rifles)

4 posted on 02/23/2004 9:38:11 AM PST by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: Monty22
It's a tough fight. So much emotions, misconception and spin is involved.
As we both know, AK-47's are almost impossible to find. AK variants are widely available in semi-automatic but hardley ever used in crimes. Uzi's are almost completely gone due to import restrictions. (I would love to know the last time a true AK-47 or Uzi was used in a crime.)
Ironically, this woman's family members were shot with handguns. No doubt, she has been trying to "do something" ever since. It's too bad she couldn't focus her energy on something that might actually work.
5 posted on 02/23/2004 9:38:25 AM PST by Rocky Mountain High
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To: Rocky Mountain High
Remember that bank shootout in CA a few years ago where the robbers had body armor and the cops' pistol bullets just bounced off them? Those guys had full auto AK-47's but by God's grace, didn't kill anyone.
6 posted on 02/23/2004 9:48:43 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: chance33_98
"I was elected to Congress to do one thing: reduce gun violence in this country."

That might be true, but banning ugly black guns with flash suppressors, bayonet lugs and normal capacity magazines has not done that, and could not really be expected to. Renewing the ban won't do it either.

In fact there is much evidence, from England and elsewhere, that it could do the opposite. The reason an incrase in violent crime didn't happen here is the increase in legal concealed carry over the same period since the ban was put into effect. That is known and proven to reduce violance, with or without guns, as well as anything sociological can be proven. That and the fact that the ban was completely cosmetic, except for the regular capacity magazine ban, whose main effect was to drive up the prices of some really bad magazines.

7 posted on 02/23/2004 9:50:44 AM PST by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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To: El Gato
Any effort to extend this ineffective--by the governments own admission--fraud does not have a prayer. Tom Delay has already stated that its not going to be voted upon.
8 posted on 02/23/2004 9:57:26 AM PST by appeal2
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To: Monty22
But, can we stop these guys?

I doubt it. The rumor is it will be attached to a bill that stops lawsuits against gun manufactures to allow the RINO's to pass it and claim victory. If the republicans can't stand up this time around with control of all branches, they are completely useless.

9 posted on 02/23/2004 9:59:05 AM PST by steve50 ("Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." -H. L. Mencken)
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To: appeal2
You left out the </sarcasm>.
10 posted on 02/23/2004 10:04:14 AM PST by Little Ray (Why settle for a Lesser Evil? Vote Cthuhlu for President!)
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To: steve50
If the republicans can't stand up this time around with control of all branches, they are completely useless.

This is why reform within our own party is critical. The RINO's will continue act like Democrats-Lite unless they are held accountable by us.

If the choice is between a so-so Republican and a more conservative Republican in the primaries this year we HAVE TO support the more conservative one. If we continue to re-elect the same ol' crowd we will get the same ol' results.

For example, David Dreier (incumbant Liberal Republican) is being challenged by Sonny Sardo in Southern California.

If we want a conservative, Dreier must go.

11 posted on 02/23/2004 10:12:22 AM PST by AreaMan
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To: AreaMan
I agree. I'd go so far as to vote 3rd party before supporting a RINO who allows this. The odds of losing the House are nil, and it should send the proper message to the rest.
12 posted on 02/23/2004 10:16:19 AM PST by steve50 ("Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." -H. L. Mencken)
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To: AreaMan
Any R who votes for this abomination should face well financed primary challenges. Ask Arlen Spector how much he is liking runing agaist Toomey. Toomey has a lot of cash behind him from "The Club for Growth", who are targeting Spector because of his miserable record on taxes.

The RKBA lobby needs to get a strategy like this, to punish moderates in primaries. Only then will RINOs live in fear and our rights will be a little safer.

13 posted on 02/23/2004 10:17:55 AM PST by Jack Black
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To: chance33_98
. If we don't act soon, AK-47s and UZIs will once again be available to cop-killing criminals and terrorists," McCarthy said.

One more reason why the people of NY suck. They elected this bozo. (Along with Hitlery, upChuckie, Nadler, etc.) McCarthy isn't an electoral accident. She represents the views of the freedom fearing neo national socialists in her electorate.

14 posted on 02/23/2004 10:20:26 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Remember that bank shootout in CA a few years ago where the robbers had body armor and the cops' pistol bullets just bounced off them? Those guys had full auto AK-47's but by God's grace, didn't kill anyone.

Full auto AK's are not part of the assault weapons ban. They are covered by the statute passed in 1933 regulating machine guns.

15 posted on 02/23/2004 10:30:33 AM PST by Texas Federalist
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To: Texas Federalist
I know, but the question was asked about when the last time a REAL AK-47 was used in a crime, not just a LEGAL AK-47.
16 posted on 02/23/2004 10:33:56 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: steve50
I'd go so far as to vote 3rd party before supporting a RINO who allows this.

The RINOs have caved to so much, this is the last straw. There is no reason to keep them in power if they back down on this incremental gun ban.

17 posted on 02/23/2004 10:38:49 AM PST by stevio
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To: chance33_98
Just a opinion, nothing more.

The do-gooders, libs and Dems could care less about gun crime. They could care less about inner-city youth gunning each other down and could care less about school shootings, drive-by's and all that nonsense. Matter of fact, it makes their jobs much easier. I believe that they do not want it to stop, as crass as that may sound.

What they care about is disarming the populace. Because the real Civil War is around the corner. And it is going to make the Union-Confederate Tariff War of 1861-1865 look like a Sunday brunch. And they can't win that war, unless we, the hapless slobs that make up this country, are disarmed. And us hapless slobs are black, white, Asian, Hispanic, etc. Hitler knew it, Stalin knew it, and every other despot knows it. So do the Dems, Libs and other do-gooders. Only the "enlightened" will have arms. Not us. So the permanent AWB is just the first step in getting a bolt-action 308 banned, a Ruger 10/22, a AR style rifle, ad infinitum. All banned for the "common good" and to "protect" the children. They are not interested in protecting the children, they are intersted in protecting themselves and their power

If the AWB makes the goal feasible or to quote Adolf H, "The ends justify the means" then that's what they will do. It's about a disarmed populace.

I saw Sarah Brady on something the other day, yakking and ranting about guns. But the interviewer never questioned her about buying her son a 308 (or was it a 30-06?). We all know she bought it for him so he could "hunt". Right. And Al Goreleone invented the internet, and Love Story was about him and Hipper. Sarah should have just said, "My family can have weapons, but you ignorant peons can't"

One thing that no one is going to like and flame away. But read The Turner Diaries. Where Pierce writes, blacks, Jews, yadda,yadda, yadda, subsitute Dems, Libs and Do-Gooders. Where he mentions Whites, subsitute that with Conservatives. Then you will see that the book actually makes some sense. That's just my $0.02.

As for the Turner Diaries. Thank the media for that. If they didn't make such a big deal about it during the McVeigh trial, I would have never heard of it.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

18 posted on 02/23/2004 10:46:05 AM PST by Duke809 (704th TASS, out of business since 1984, Jake20 68-03809)
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To: chance33_98
"If we don't act soon, bayonet lugs and cute little muzzle thingys will once again be available to cop-killing criminals and terrorists," McCarthy said.
19 posted on 02/23/2004 10:50:04 AM PST by Sender ("This is the most important election in the history of the world." -DU)
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To: Duke809
Sorry. The Second (and Real) Civil War has been canceled. Too many folks would their favorite TV shows.
20 posted on 02/23/2004 10:50:34 AM PST by Little Ray (Why settle for a Lesser Evil? Vote Cthuhlu for President!)
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