Gun bills may trigger split

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | Feb 23, 2004 | Brian DeBose

[neverdem]

The Senate will begin another debate on federal gun laws this week, and at least one issue may put it at odds with Republicans in the other chamber.

A Republican-led bill to immunize gun makers from wrongful-death claims is expected to hit the floor tomorrow, but Democrats and liberal Republicans will propose an amendment to extend the federal assault-weapons ban, possibly setting up a showdown with the House.

[BayouCoyote]

BTTT!

[Imal]

If the AWB does indeed find its rightful place on the ash heap of history, I imagine my sizeable collection of "assault weapons" will lose quite a bit of its value.

For some reason, the idea doesn't bother me at all.

[Monty22]

I'll vote Consitution party probably. And if whoever's on that ticket is a jerk, I'll go blank.

[SW6906]

Let's see. My Senators are Patty "Osama-Mama" Murray and Maria Cantwell. Should I waste my time calling them to urge them to oppose this crap?

I didn't think so either.

[cksharks]

Did you vote for Bush in 2000????????

[Blood of Tyrants]

That amendment was put in way back when they had a Constitutional Convention in 1870 when freedom and limited government was still valued. There is little chance that anything like it could be done today.

[cruiserman]

Don't hold our rights hostage to the financial well being of private businesses. The gun companies will survive, but it's very hard to regain our rights.

[Euro-American Scum]

Strongly agree. I *will* vote for Kerry if this is signed.

The AWB was the last holdout issue for me. I was still hanging in there with Bush. But this bill was and is my litmus test.

I can live with campaign finance reform, open borders, OPIC, the deficits and the underwriting of foreign companies. I can even live with the offshoring of every job in America worth having to fatten to coffers of Dubya's corporate handlers.

I can't live with him signing the AWB. This makes him no different than Kerry. The only difference is we know the devil in the details with the Rats.

I've had all I want of this so-called conservative President pandering to every liberal special interest group under the sun. I've had it with the Bush Kool-Aid drinkers who insist all this is perfectly all right, because, after all, GWB is a Republican. And most of all I've had it with two Bush presidents giving their collective big middle finger to the base. Bush signs this bill, and I'll vote a straight Rat ticket. What the hell's the difference. 'Bout time those pretenders in the White House finds out there are consequences for betrayal.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Come on man. Saddle up your horse. There are some windmills that need a good thrashing.

[RockChucker]

"Did you vote for Bush in 2000????????"

Yes, I have always voted straight R.

If the Republicans are looking for me / my vote in November and Bush signs the AWB in any form, tell them my address is "Gone".

[Monty22]

Ditto, this was the one thing I felt ok about finally with Republicans in charge, and here we go again. Makes one want to give up on the party after giving so much already.

[cksharks]

Well your an idiot, because he said over and over that he would renue the aw ban. One thing about Bush is that he is true to his word.

[Dave Olson]

If the AWB is still around after this Sept, I will vote straight democrate in the next election and then NEVER vote again.

At least with the Democrates in office, we know who the devil is.

Why should anybody believe that you'd fight the devil, when you'd deliberately put that devil in power in the first place? Particularly when, by saying that you'd "NEVER vote again", you'd give up so easily?

[Dave Olson]

Strongly agree. I *will* vote for Kerry if this is signed.

Other than the possibility of Kerry as president, what will that get you?

[xsrdx]

How many times can the NRA repeat they are fighting for the sunset of the AWB?

It's deja-vu, all over again!

NRA Anti-AWB Website

SUNSET THE AW BAN

[Monty22]

Cause for some people (like me), this subject would be the same as Bush handing over the military of the USA to the UN.

It's a ridiculously important matter.

[RockChucker]

"Well your an idiot, because he said over and over that he would renue the aw ban. One thing about Bush is that he is true to his word."

Yep. An idiot. I actually believed he was merely pandering to the left to get votes.

[Sender]

Completely Banned!!! Yet, still Chicago has managed to become the number one murder capital within that time. How is that possible if a gun ban works? Also, even with the gun ban, most crimes that used a firearm where not committed with an "Assault" weapon but rather a hand gun. Yes, the very thing that has been banned by the Mayor.

All part of the gun-banners' strategy. Pass a gun law knowing all along that it won't work, then when the evidence comes in proving that it didn't work, twist and distort the logic to conclude that stricter laws should be passed. Then when that doesn't work, take a leap of logic to conclude that guns should be banned. All the while vigorously protecting the rights of criminals, don't you know. After all, if it weren't for guns, no one would get shot. Right? And all these gun criminals would be enrolled in college or at a monastery.

[Mr. Mojo]

Yeah, I know what they've said in the past. But many times what the NRA says and what they do are two different things entirely. (And btw, I'm a lifetime member).

That LaPierre chose to focus on the NRA's opposition to the AWB expansion rather than on the extension in the quotes the Wash Times reported is very telling, imo. He should've made it clear that the NRA vigorously opposes both, and is unwilling to compromise on that point. Seems to me that the NRA and the Prez are on the same page now.

We shall see.

[Shooter 2.5]

I wonder how many here did what the NRA asked back in the last two elections? The NRA repeatedly stated the AWB fight started back when we needed the A rated legislators in office so they could sunset the ban.

Not many from the looks of it. They're just waking up now.