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."

[TexasCowboy]

We've almost won this round.

There will only be eighteen thousand more.

We need a ban on liberals!!

[Southack]

Something to consider: We've passed CCW in several states under Bush, including in Texas where he signed it into law as Governor. Under Bush we've repealed the federal ban on arming pilots, and the DOT says that at least 4,000 pilots will be armed by October 1. We've federally repealed the state and local bans on off duty police carrying their weapons through "prohibited" zones into states with bans, too.

And now we've made the most of our tiny victory from back in our losing fight in 1994; we're exercising the deadline on the AWB ban itself.

You can't point to any period in our history where we've killed more anti-gun-rights laws than in the last few years under President Bush.

3 Full Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[G Larry]

Damn local news shows video of full auto weapon fire, while stating that "This will be legal for you to buy come Monday, as the Assault Weapons Ban expires"!

These lying POS's have no accountability!

[Kornev]

Put on Nightline right now, ABC.

[TexasCowboy]

I definitely give credit where credit is due.

I have a lot of problems with GW, but in this area he has done a darn good job!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

only be eighteen thousand more.

Just remember TC, when the last round comes, we will still be armed. At least I know I will because I'm not giving mine up until they come and take them. Just in case my eyesight is gone or my hand no longer steady I'm buying more 12 ga. ammo.

BTW in 12 ga. do you think it should be buck shot, buck shot, slug or buck shot, slug, buck shot?

[William Tell]

GailA said: "yahoo, this will please those who were not going to vote for GW if he signed this bill."

Yep. I have my Bush/Cheney yard signs ready to go up Tuesday, my celebration rifle is ready to pick-up now that my background check and waiting period are satisfied, and I am planning some noise-making for 9PM PDT.

[Southack]

If pump, then 12ga buckshot, slug, buckshot; if semi-auto then 12ga buckshot, buckshot, slug!

3 Full Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[TexasCowboy]

I always preferred both barrels with "00"s, but I wasn't shooting at anything two legged, either.

I think that's why I'm gravitating toward bigger and bigger guns.
I want something that I don't have to hit my target between the eyes to bring him down. A finger shot will do it.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Try #4 buck. At close range it's like a mini-Claymore, or a grenade you can aim.

Instead of the nine .30 shot, you get 27 .22 shot.

[shield]

Great

[Bonaparte]

Now that is funny.

[ApesForEvolution]

BTTT for the united states Constitution...

[ApesForEvolution]

I'm *ECSTATIC*!

[ApesForEvolution]

There you are..."HIGH FIVE!"

[Atlas Sneezed]

What's the best web site for firearms? gunsamerica.com?

---

The BEST and ONLY wise way to buy a rifle that the grabbers have their eyes on is in a legal private sale (assuming your state permits it.) You do NOT want your sale in the database, because the feds or your state will come for yours first, as has happened in other states.

You can find a local private sale on gunsamerica.com or auctionarms.com, which let you limit your searches by keyword. Local classified are also quite handy. There may be gunshows for purchasing.

DO NOT BUY FROM A DEALER. Pay whatever premium it takes (though you may actually save money) and absorb any uncertainty about condition. Freepmail me if you need help.

[votelife]

Feinstein, RINO Shays, some lib woman were on a 9/11 larry King show and the lib woman brought up the "need" to extend the ban. They tried to pin Sen Kyl down, but he kept changing the subject...

[mhking]

'Nuff said.

Black conservative ping

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[Optimist]

I've got my Thompson to keep me warm...

???????

[Eaker]

Michael, you are a real asset to FreeRepublic.