Renewal of assault weapon ban shot down in Senate

Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau ^ | 9/7/04 | GEBE MARTINEZ

[Mr. Mojo]

With president on the sidelines, its sponsor says, bill has no chance

WASHINGTON - The fight to renew a favored ban on assault weapons effectively died Tuesday after the lead Senate sponsor of a bill to continue restrictions on the sale and manufacture of some semi-automatic weapons conceded defeat.

"Absent the president twisting arms, it's nil," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., of the chances to get a bill passed before midnight Monday, when the law expires.

President Bush has indicated he would sign an extension of the 1994 law if Congress got it to his desk. But Bush has not asked the House to pass it, and congressional Republican leaders, including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, have refused to bring it to the floor for a vote.

A survey released this week by the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey in Philadelphia found that 68 percent of Americans want Congress to extend the gun law.

But gun manufacturers already are marketing military-style firearms in preparation for the rollback of the weapons law, according to a study released Tuesday by the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit collection of 300 consumer groups.

The consumer group interviewed gun industry experts and marketing representatives and surveyed manufacturers' catalogs and Web sites. At least one company offers a nonrefundable prepayment option to those looking for a head start.

As a result, "assault weapons are going to be more lethal and less expensive," said Susan Peschin, firearms project director at the federation.

Earlier this year, 52 senators voted for the ban on manufacturing 19 types of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and on ammunition clips holding more than 10 rounds. But it was part of a bill that was later defeated.

While some House members are expected to try to attach the ban to another "must-pass" bill this session, a pragmatic Feinstein said the fight is over for now. She vowed to re-introduce an assault weapons ban next year.

"If the president says he's going to sign the bill — and that indicates he supports the bill — but he does not do anything to help it pass, the bill will fail," Feinstein said.

Nonetheless, groups continue to campaign until the deadline.

For example, the National Rifle Association gun lobby warned on its Web site that it "cannot take anything for granted." It vowed to "pull out all the stops" to make sure the ban isn't renewed.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, questioned the effectiveness of the current ban and said supporters of gun owners' rights fear a new law might overreach "to all kinds of hunting rifles. Automatic weapons are banned already."

[Bonaparte]

LOL! All those police chiefs are going to blame their city crime rates on the AWB sunsetting, despite the fact that their own states, cities and districts either have bans in place or can put bans in place anytime they want to. Their gang bangers won't care one way or another.

[RandallFlagg]

I was wondering if there was a FReeper who could post pics of the weapons that will be made legal (AGAIN) by Monday.

You know....SHOPPING LIST?

[sport]

The Second Amendment is the only thing that prevents what happened at the Russian school from happening here.

[nothingnew]

FMCDH

FMCDH(BITS)

[Lurking2Long]

How did Kerry and Edwards vote?

Oh yeah, that's right, THEY'RE AWOL from the Senate now, aren't they?!!!!!!!!!!

[B4Ranch]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, RINO-Utah , .........

[PhiKapMom]

You have that right -- criminals are going to get the guns they want anyways so a gun ban is not going to stop them at all!

[PhiKapMom]

I loved that remark -- he is right about that!

[PhiKapMom]

Exactly! I remember in San Antonio one time they put an embargo on reporting violent crime so not to scare away the tourist which meant their crime rates went down.

[Dead Corpse]

68% of WHO? Americans? None of the Americans I know. Not one single one I've talked to about this thinks the AWB was having ANY effect at all! Most the rest will even agree after a bit that the correct, legal way for the FedGov to restrict them AT ALL would be only after Amending the Constitution. Now that would be a political fight that would make the record books.

Makes me wanna go shoot something...

Oh yeah... Here's that thread I started about Sunday....

[LibLieSlayer]

"As a result, "assault weapons are going to be more lethal and less expensive," said Susan Peschin, firearms project director at the federation".

Dang! In that case... I'm going to buy me a new "toy"!

LLS

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Ping this y'all.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

I am SO embarrassed that Feinstien and Boxer are from California.

[oyez]

The Russians should train a volinteer milita answer such situations as their military and police are short on personel.

[Liberty Valance]

Bump!

[okie01]

AWB Sunset Ping

[Ancesthntr]

19 out of 20? I suspect it's more like 199 out of 200.

I would hope that at least 5% of these 'holes would at least know the difference between semi- and full-auto. Maybe that's just because I'm in a good mood - now, that is, because of the near certain knowledge that Feinswine, Schemer, the Admiral and the Hag will have to duct tape their heads on Monday to keep the angst from blowing their booze-addled brains all over the Senate.

[Southack]

""Absent the president twisting arms, it's nil," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., of the chances to get a bill passed before midnight Monday, when the law expires.
...
Earlier this year, 52 senators voted for the ban on manufacturing 19 types of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and on ammunition clips holding more than 10 rounds."

What utter propaganda. She knows full well that the Democrats are *short* by at least two Senators (Kerry and Edwards) who are off campaigning instead of doing their jobs in the Senate. Frist has 1 Rino in his pocket who would switch on a close vote to make it 49/49, with VP Dick Cheney voting our way to kill it.

That would make VP Cheney a hero in such current "battleground" states as West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Since they can't have VP Cheney being a hero, they are dropping the ball on their own issue.

3 Full Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[gatex]

"..."If the president says he's going to sign the bill — and that indicates he supports the bill — but he does not do anything to help it pass, the bill will fail," Feinstein said. ..."

I wonder if Senator Feinstein would have approved of the 1938 Nazi gun law that made it illegal for Jews to possess firearms or ammunition ?

[gatex]

"Since they can't have VP Cheney being a hero, they are dropping the ball on their own issue. "

Interesting point.