Marchers Demand Bush Extend Assault Weapons Ban

Reuters ^ | May 9, 2004 | Peter Kaplan

[yonif]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gun control supporters marched through Washington, D.C. on Sunday demanding that President Bush extend a federal ban on the sale of military-style assault rifles.

Several thousand protesters, organized by the same group that put together the Million Mom March in 2000, walked from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument chanting "Halt the assault."

At the head of the march, protesters held a banner depicting an AK-47 assault rifle, saying the president would be to blame for more violence unless he fulfilled a previous promise to sign an extension of the 1994 ban before it expires in September.

Gun control advocates said it would become easier for militant groups like al Qaeda to launch another attack inside the United States once the assault weapons ban expires.

"It is inconceivable at a time we have high terrorist alerts and homeland security that you would make available to the enemies of life and peace these high-powered rifles," civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson told the crowd in a speech immediately before the march.

The White House has said Bush would sign an extension of the ban if it were put before him by Congress, but he has not actively pushed for it.

Republican leaders in the House, meanwhile, have strongly opposed renewing the ban and have said they do not plan a vote on it.

Foes of the ban say it has not brought down violent crime. But such groups as the Fraternal Order of Police and the U.S. Conference of Mayors disagree, and have endorsed its extension.

At Sunday's Mother's Day march, Jackson and other gun-control advocates, from lawmakers and entertainers to shooting victims, urged supporters to pressure Congress to renew the ban.

"Every day that's what our military are using in the war in Iraq -- we need these guns on our streets? Are they crazy up there?" said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, gesturing toward the Capitol building.

McCarthy, a New York Democrat, was elected to Congress after her husband was killed and her son injured in a Long Island commuter train shooting in 1993.

[big bad easter bunny]

I was actually there, saw the whole thing and there was only 49 peeople, 6 of those were cops, 8 were with C-SPAN, one was selling vegetarian hot dogs, and the rest were speakers. So actually no one really showed up. Whoops I forgot me.

[meatloaf]

Sounds good to me. Can we start a collection to buy them all tickets to Baghdad? Let them start the march in Nasf.

[jocko12]

Bush do not sign the gun ban,a VOTER

[PISANO]

The HEADLINE should read...

998,000 NO SHOWS show approval for Assualt Weapons Ban is waning....BIG TIME!

[Atlas Sneezed]

Nice guns, Jesse! How many of those do you own?

[Atlas Sneezed]

Is this the best the photographer could do to show the crowd?

[BOBWADE]

"Nice guns, Jesse! How many of those do you own?" ANSWER: None, my family has some but I don't own any.

[isthisnickcool]

Sara Brady: "Jim, get in the wheelchair. It's time to go on stage and round up some more cash from the Dummies...."

[lawdog]

I saw one of these "patriots" on Hardball. I sent little Miss Chrisy a note regarding his "guest" a Ms. Dees-Thomas (?).

I got home just in time to see your interview with a representative of the Million Mom March. Funny I didn’t see you throwing any hardballs. This “lady” was allowed to “propagandize” unchecked. She was allowed to reel off one cliché after another. Her understanding of the Second Amendment was nothing short of moronic.

True “assault weapons” have been regulated for years (an assault weapon is a full automatic weapon- think machine gun). The much vaunted 94 “assault weapons” ban has had no significant impact on “gun crimes” since its inception. Criminals and terrorists do not fret over gun laws. Your guest even called “assault weapons”, Weapons of Mass Destruction”. She needs to call the DNC and get her “talking points” straight.

How many assault weapons were used by the terrorists on 9-11-2001? I could go on about your “guest” but I think she can best be described as a demagogue that is “factually challenged”.

[Eastbound]

"Gun control advocates said it would become easier for militant groups like al Qaeda to launch another attack inside the United States once the assault weapons ban expires."

Faulty logic. al Qaeda has no need of the sunset to possess an assault weapon. They've been in-country here long enough to have more than they will ever need or use.

What is logical here is that the gun control advocates appear to be working for al Qaeda, which would dearly love for the ban to be extended, hoping we don't already have ours.

[hoosierham]

What a pathetically small group of pathetically small-minded people.

[Tailback]

BTW, all this "assault weapons" talk has gotten me really turned on. I think I might have to go out and buy a new Bushmaster 20" flattop AR-15.

No no no, wait until after the AWB expires and buy a 20" Bushie flattop WITH A FLASH SUPPRESSOR AND BAYONET LUG!

[BOBWADE]

Don't we know it. I was listening to the news and good ole Jesse was telling the crowds that Bush would be responsible for more deaths if the ban was not extended. Another screeching witch was yelling that we need a 5 day waiting period on all firearms purchases. What a bunch of loons!

[longtermmemmory]

Signs like this make those the must have's on every collectors list.

[tbeatty]

"Every day that's what our military are using in the war in Iraq -- we need these guns on our streets? Are they crazy up there?" said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, gesturing toward the Capitol building.

These weapons have never been available on the street and they won't be available after the ban expires.

But there might be guns that have a flash suppressor or bayonet lug. We know how dangerous they are.

I just checked my NFA class III gun store and the guns that are being used in Iraq cost about $5k, at least a 6-month waiting period and a background check. I don't think the terrorist will wait that long.

P.S. These weapons are never available at gun shows.

[boxsmith13]

interesting:

they dont mention a number, they just say "thousands" of protesters. the number must have bee nso low they couldnt credibily inflate it

[drZ]

the Kalashnikov on the main MMM banner is a post ban configuration missing the bayonet lug ...

extend the 1994 "ban" and that gun is still legal


poll to freep
http://www.cnn.com/

Should the federal ban on assault weapons be...

Lifted

  22%

3477 votes

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Extended

  78%

12554 votes

Total: 16031 votes

[Clemenza]

Actually, Carolyn McCarthy represents MY childhood congressional district on Long Island's south shore. Hopefully, James Garner (no NOT Maverick!), the Mayor of Hempstead will topple her in November.

[cyborg]

I foresee a Garner LOSS because of the what's going on with taxes in Hempstead Village :(

[tbeatty]

It was 2000 and this was the number that MMM gave. I'm sure it was a lot smaller.