Posted on 12/07/2007 6:03:10 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Iowans should press presidential candidates for their views on assault weapons in light of Wednesday's shopping-mall massacre in Omaha, a national gun-control advocate said Thursday.
Most Democratic candidates support reinstating a federal assault-weapons ban that expired in 2004.
Most Republican candidates oppose reinstating the ban, saying it was ineffective.
Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Thursday that the 30-round ammunition clips Robert Hawkins reportedly used in Wednesday's shootings in Omaha would have been illegal to purchase under the assault-weapons ban.
Helmke said it was not clear whether the gun itself, described as an AK-47-style assault rifle, would have been covered by the ban. But it should be illegal, he said.
"If this is something that can take a 30-round clip and fire them off quickly, it should be banned. This is a weapon of mass murder," he said.
Hawkins used the rifle to kill eight people and wound five before killing himself, police said. He reportedly stole the gun from his stepfather.
The assault-weapons ban was passed in 1994 and allowed to lapse a decade later. It covered purchases of specific models of guns and certain accessories, including clips that held more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
Helmke said Iowans should demand responses from the presidential candidates campaigning before the caucuses. He said they should ask why Americans are allowed to buy guns designed for the military.
"Basically, should the public be able to get the types of guns we use in Iraq?" he said.
State Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, who is a board member of the National Rifle Association, urged people not to rush to judgment while police investigate the Omaha shootings.
Baudler said every time such a tragedy happens, NRA supporters expect to hear calls to toughen gun-control laws.
But he contended that if the killers didn't have guns, they would use another type of weapon.
"When you have a lunatic that's bent on becoming famous and wants to be remembered, you're going to have problems, whether it's a gasoline bomb or any type of device. ... It comes back to the lunatic," he said.
Baudler added that the 30-round clips reportedly used in Omaha take less than two seconds to replace, so a smaller-capacity clip would not have slowed the shooter very much on Wednesday.
Earlier this fall, The Des Moines Register surveyed presidential candidates about their stances on gun control.
Democrats Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Barack Obama said they would support reinstating the assault-weapons ban.
Democrat Bill Richardson and Republicans Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson said they would not support reinstating the ban.
Several of them said they opposed the ban because they thought it was ineffective.
Republican Rudy Giuliani's campaign declined to specifically answer the question, but Giuliani supported the ban when it was enacted in 1994.
Helmke, the gun-control advocate, said the Republican candidates appear to have more differences over the issue than their Democratic counterparts.
Although they do not talk much about it as candidates, he said, Romney and Giuliani were relatively supportive of gun control in their previous jobs as governor of Massachusetts and mayor of New York City. McCain also has been relatively moderate on some gun-control issues, Helmke added.
He said it was not clear whether other restrictions, such as bans on sales of guns to mentally ill people, would have affected the outcome of Wednesday's shooting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter Tony Leys can be reached at (515) 284-8449 or tleys@dmreg.com
That’s what happened in WA state last year, when an off duty out of jurisdiction cop ignored the “no guns” sign at a mall. He nailed a mass shooter before too many casualties. The shooter had a big sack of buckshot shells for his pump shotgun.
Well, had someone, anyone, at the mall been armed, maybe things would have turned out differently and some of those folks would still be alive.
AR-15s and AKs are needed in the hands of lawful citizens BECAUSE THE BAD GUYS AIN’T GONNA GIVE UP THEIR GUNS!!!
Geez, I am sick of the whiny morons.
The private ownership of full auto weapons is not banned but is highly restricted.My wife and I own several full autos,you get to jump through a few hoops to get them .
Argue all you want about whether a gun ban would effect the outcome of the shooting, but a citizen with a gun would have effected the outcome of the shooting.
Maybe it’s time to hold the businesses accountable for those gun free shooting gallery malls. Try this test, put a placard in front of your house, “no guns in this house” and let us know the results.
My advice, stay out of “gun free malls”.
If I can’t have military grade weapons does that mean I must turn in my .308 bolt action and .45 acp?
Instead of “assualt weapons” we should ban “Free-Fire Zones”!
No they haven't been banned, you can buy them if you pay $200.00 for a tax stamp, and fill out all the required government paperwork.
Here is the Romney quote from May of this year....
“Q: As governor you signed into law one of the toughest restrictions on assault weapons in the country.
A: Let’s get the record straight. First of all, there’s no question that I support 2nd Amendment rights, but I also support an assault weapon ban. Look, I’ve been governor in a pretty tough state. You’ve heard of blue states. In the toughest of blue states, I made the toughest decisions and did what was right for America. I have conservative values.
Source: 2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina May 15, 2007 “
Its pretty obvious that liberal puke lies so much he forgets what he has lied about.
Will the Mittwits be here to defend this lie?
You know, for once I agree with something from these Brady jackasses: we should ask all the candidates exactly what they believe on this topic. We already know where most of them stand, but it’d be good to hear it from them again.
What exactly is THAT???? I'm guessing this was an SKS, which operates in roughly the same way as an AK. But I'm sure this idiot wouldn't know a gas-operated semiautomatic rifle from a gas-emitting horse's heinie (unless he recognized himself in a mirror). So this is more gun-hating hyperbole, and I can guarantee you it won't play well in Nebraska.
Constitutional Patriot said:
“And still no mention of the mall being a “gun free zone” (for law abiding citizens)in a state that allows it’s citizens to cary concealed weapons. Had there been even one capable armed private citizen within range of this animal the story would have a happy ending.”
Exactly, the law abiding do not have a chance against this type of crime because in protecting themselves they become criminals. Several States CCW laws are writtin such that if you are caught concealed carrying in an establishment that posts a sign at the entrance forbidding concealed firearms you become a felon. The Mall in this cases has its share of blood on its hands for infringing on one of mans, or womans, basic rights of protection. That protection given to us by the Second Ammendment.
Yeah I figured that would fade off the face of the earth PDQ.
Not even tyrants?
They all had the right. Maybe none had permission from their nanny, the gubmint, but they all had the right.
Described? By who? Never mind. Nothing to see here.
You all didn’t beat him up enough.
I rather doubt that would have much impact since, as per the article, Hawkins STOLE the AK-47 from his stepfather.
Regards,
GtG
Yeah, A Metal Storm in every pot!
can we? , hell no. should we be able to--- Hell Yes...
m-i-l-i-t-i-a...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.