Posted on 09/20/2004 3:53:30 PM PDT by lowbridge
LETHAL WEAPONS
In 1994, President Clinton signed into law the ban of 19 types of dangerous assault weapons. There was a stipulation, or "sunset clause," which stated the ban would be lifted in 10 years if Congress didn't renew it. President Bush claims he would sign the bill renewing the ban if it made its way across his desk. Unbelievably, these assault weapons that will now flood the streets of the United States are the same type our military is trying so hard to get off the streets of Iraq.
An independent report by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) claimed assault weapons accounted for only 2 percent of gun violence in this country a decade ago. That may sound like a small amount. But when one takes into account the millions of people living in this country, the 192 million Americans who owned firearms in 1994, and the enormous amount of crime, then 2 percent translates into way too many lives lost unnecessarily. The report continues by saying assault weapons were "used only rarely in gun crimes before the ban." Of course, this is based on our sociological advancement of a decade ago, a time when people's access to assault weapons, especially illegal ones, was limited.
In 1994 the Internet wasn't commonplace in every home, providing people with unlimited access to just about any type of information they desire. The Internet has also become a tool for the unethical and even the criminal to market products such as legalized guns and medications, without really knowing to whom they are selling these products. Gambling is illegal almost everywhere in the United States, yet anyone looking to gamble can do so right on the Internet, thanks to technology. A few months back, a German couple even tried to auction off their young daughter on eBay. It only stands to reason that there will be opportunists offering assault weapons like Uzis, AK-47s and TEC-9s online without giving a second thought as to who the purchaser is on the other side of the screen. Online gun distributors have already offered assault weapons and related products for presale so that anyone who wanted these items could have them in their hands on Sept. 13th, when the ban expired.
For someone determined to obtain an assault weapon illegally, there won't be too many obstacles in the way. Anyone will now be able to go to a gun show or flea market and purchase an assault weapon, with no questions asked. According to Andrew Arulanandam, the director of public affairs for the National Rifle Association (NRA), "What we ought to be concerned about is firearms in the hands of criminals, not in the hands of law-abiding citizens." This is true, but who decides which person is a law-abiding citizen and which is a criminal? Were the Columbine kids considered criminals before they embarked on their spree of terror? They were able to obtain firearms. What if there was no ban on assault weapons during that time? How many more people would have been killed? What about John Allen Muhammad? He wasn't considered a criminal before the D.C. sniper attacks. Mohammad actually used a Bushmaster XM-15, a modified version of the Colt AR-15, which was included as illegal in the 1994 ban. Had Mohammad been able to get his hands on the more lethal version of the weapon he used, he probably would have been able to take more lives than he already had.
There is no positive aspect to having assault weapons available for the buying public. No one needs an AK-47 for home protection. The government says it's dedicated to fighting the war on terrorism, but it's letting this bill die. Imagine the damage that terrorists living in this country could do with assault weapons. Is the government protecting homeowners? Hunters? Hunters don't need an Uzi to shoot deer.
Assault weapons were designed for military use. If a law-abiding citizen has such a yearning to possess one of these weapons, then let that person join the Marines.
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Visit www.amyfisher.com to contact Amy or to view archived columns.
bump
Dear Amy,
Stick to BJs and leave the politics to the professionals.
Next Amy Fisher is going to be working at 60 minutes on CBS She's got as much credibility.
Any one know what type of guy Amy Fisher used to shoot Mrs. Butta-who-ever?
Amy Fischer is a anti-gun liberal, well you could knock me over with a forklift.
"Stick to BJs and leave the politics to the professionals."
Maybe she means "Friendly Weapons."
"An independent report by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) claimed assault weapons accounted for only 2 percent of gun violence in this country a decade ago."
Dear Amy,
Here is where we differ. Anything that is used to illegally harm others is an assault weapon.
Could be a baseball bat, a gun, or even a wet noodle.
Speaking of wet noodles....
Notice how she never actually does the math here. That's because 1) she's a lib, and can't actually DO math, and 2) she might come up with a number that doesn't support her position.
She mentions the DC sniper using an "assault weapon", failing to mention that he only fired one or perhaps two shots at a time. So much for the ten magazine limit. This is clearly an emotional screed, with no facts or logic to limit the author's cliched, knee jerk prose.
We do, actually. Uzis with bayonet lugs and bipods and flash suppressors and high-capacity ammo clip magazine bullet-holder thingies with teflon cop-killer bullets made of enriched uranium. It keeps the deer from shooting back.
Amy, dear, you're an idiot.
It sorta speaks for itself.
Enriched uranium?
What, Federal makes 9MM tactical nuclear ammunition?
That Amy Fisher? Writing commentary on assault weapons? Up is down, right is left, wrong is right - cats and dogs living together - could be the end times....
Dear Amy,
Your poorly researched attempt to thwart the second amendment of the Constitution reflects badly on you,
which with your record is pretty hard to do.
Next time Please STAY in PRISON.
Tet68 former Marine.
Note, don't come knocking on my door as I might just be
cleaning my 100 year old Turkish "Assault Weapon".
Amy raced to her house where she planned to wait for Peter Guagenti. When she got to Berkley Lane, she was surprised to find him there already, his 1983 maroon Thunderbird parked in front. They exchanged a few words. Amy gave Peter $800 dollars, and he gave her the gun. It was a .25 caliber Titan; a cheap, semiautomatic Italian pistol once imported by a Miami firm that has since gone out of business. Amy got into the Thunderbird, and they drove together to One Adam Road West.
LETHAL WEAPONS (Amy Fisher on Assault Weapons. Yes, THAT Amy Fisher)
hahahahha that is the funniest title thread.
I guess being a Public Ass is addicting.
"Unbelievably, these assault weapons that will now flood the streets".
Transparent talking point # 1. (Flood the streets).
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