Assault gun ban is political ammo for Democrats

Chicago Tribune ^ | 7/31/04 | Frank James

[LibWhacker]

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - When former President Bill Clinton sought to frame differences between Democrats and Republicans, he made a point of citing the soon-to-expire federal ban on semiautomatic assault weapons.

"Our policy was to put more police on the street and to take assault weapons off the street, and it gave you eight years of declining crime and eight years of declining violence," Clinton said in his prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention last week. "Their policy is the reverse."

Clinton's comments demonstrated how some Democrats hope to use the assault weapons issue against President Bush and members of Congress in the campaign.

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry supports extending the ban, which is to expire Sept. 13 unless Congress acts.

An extension appears to have public support. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll in November found that 78 percent of respondents favored keeping the ban.

With only a few legislative days left before Congress' scheduled end and with little desire in the Republican-led House to extend the ban, chances for the law's survival are slim to none.

While many Democrats would like to cast the issue in good-versus-evil terms, it's more complicated. com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/9291429.htm">Excerpt

[Sender]

Our policy was to ban little screw-on thingys and lumps of metal on everyone's rifles and to lie about 100,000 more officers on the street; their policy is to kick al Qaeda's ass. I am the Clenis!!! Bow down to me!!!

[Travis McGee]

Semiautomatics require a shooter to pull the trigger each time he or she wants to fire a round. They are distinct from the weapons that combat soldiers use, such as M-16s and Kalashnikov assault rifles, which are submachine guns that allow a shooter to spray a large volume of bullets with just one trigger pull. Submachine guns were largely banned from sale or private ownership by a 1934 law and later legislation.

Another clueless reporter. You might as well hire a Sahara nomad to describe the Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska, from his personal knowledge.

[Dan from Michigan]

Gun grabs don't play well in the Midwest outside of a few areas like Ann Arbor, Chicago, and East Lansing - which are dem strongholds to begin with.

[kcar]

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry supports extending the ban, which is to expire Sept. 13 unless Congress acts.

Funny, he didn't seem to talk that up much at the Convention last week, with that streaming banner about a "Stronger America".

This should be ammo against him in many states. (WV, TN, NC, FL, NH, PA).

[sgtbono2002]

When was the last time an assault rifle was used in an armed robbery?

[tet68]

AWB = just another Zero timefuze hand granate in the
dem arsenal.

Go ahead, pull the pin, I dare you.

[LibWhacker]

Another clueless reporter.

Seems it's a requirement to get a job with the MSM. Gotta have it on your resume: Cluelessness: Kindergarten to present

[Dan from Michigan]

Those two California Bank Robbers?

[LibWhacker]

Sorry, didn't realize.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

The right to keep and bear (some types of) arms. Doesn t have a good ring to it.

[Caipirabob]

All that's left for the Rats to decide is what flavor of cool-aid to drink...

"Oh YEAH!"

[kcar]

Rats are always trying to re-define what our founding fathers meant by keep and bear arms:

[prophetic]

When was the last time an assault rifle was used in an armed robbery?

Of the 250,000 robbery instances (my un-official figures) every year in the USA, 99.999% are by a small handgun and/or knife or other means.

Prior to the now infamous case in California in 1998 (I think) where some guys actually had AK-47's plus body armour, the only other case involving ANYTHING this powerful was a Police officer gone on a rampage using his issued weapon.

So of the millions of 'armed robbery' cases in the past 20 years it is so typical & hypocritical of the media and the gun-control groups to focus on the 0.000001% of cases where a powerful weapon such as an AK-47 was actually used.

[kAcknor]

When was the last time an assault rifle was used in an armed robbery?

Doesn't really matter. Might as well ask when the last time a Ford used as a getaway car...

[Indie]

78 percent of respondents favored keeping the ban.

Ignorance. Stupidity. Laziness.

The sheeple will be our downfall, along with the willing lawyers who we have mistakenly trusted as our representatives.

[AlbertWang]

This really irks me. It is a well known fact that since the 20's gangsters have favored Fords, Clyde Barrow really loved the flathead 8. Yet to this day you can walk into a Ford dealer, and without any waiting period, plunk down cash and drive out with a Ford, the favorite vehicle of criminals. Moreover, used fords are offered for sale in newspapers across America, without any background checks on the buyers!

[dljordan]

"Funny, he didn't seem to talk that up much at the Convention last week, with that streaming banner about a "Stronger America".

I noticed the same thing. The Dims were strangely silent compared to previous elections. They want to lull people into complacency and then lower the hammer. Of course with all the pro gun control Republicans we have they just might succeed.

[longtermmemmory]

The AWB is a Max Cleland Grenade for Democrats.

The only sKerry/Backwards supporters I have seen are 1. homosexuals, 2. Still delusional about 2000, 3. Race baiters.

Is Kerry shipping in the same crowd in all these places? Kerry must be bucking for a DNC purple heart for another self inflicted wound.

[longtermmemmory]

Democrats are making decisions based on "What Would Hitler Do?"

Hitler pandered to homosexuals.
Hitler sought to disarm citizens.
Hitler used the media to make him look more important.
Hitler used the big lie to attack his enemies.


for the Democrats: Weakness is Strenght.