Posted on 04/10/2009 6:49:06 AM PDT by marktwain
(CBS) The California senator who authored the nation's now-lapsed 1994 ban on assault weapons says she will hold off trying to renew that ban.
Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.) tells 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl that the political timing isn't right and she will move to renew the ban at a future time of her own choosing. Feinstein appears in Stahl's report on the increase in gun sales taking place in America to be broadcast this Sunday, April 12, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
Asked by Stahl if trying to renew the assault weapons ban would start a culture war and pose a distraction for an already overburdened Obama Administration, Feinstein replies, "I agree with you." "So you are going to hold off?" asks Stahl. "That's correct. I'll pick the time and the place, no question about it," Feinstein tells Stahl.
But even if she pursued the renewal, the votes may not be there today in either the Senate or the House. Both Houses of Congress gained pro-gun Democrats this past election, some of whom won the support of the National Rifle Association. "I am not going to disagree with that at all," says Feinstein. "The National Rifle Association essentially has a stranglehold on the Congress."
Has Congressional leadership or anyone from the Obama administration influenced her decision to put off the fight for renewal of the assault weapons ban? "No. Nobody said a word to me," Feinstein tells Stahl.
Feinstein appears in Stahl's report on the increase of gun sales in America. Stahl talks to gun enthusiasts who tell her Americans are buying more guns now, in part, due to fear of impending social unrest as a result of the financial meltdown.
Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-guns advocacy group, explains: "We're being told all the time that, ‘The economy could just collapse and we could fall into chaos.’ Well, chaos is a good reason to be able to protect yourself… You could imagine if we truly had a collapse of the economy and it was hard to find food, those that did manage to hang onto food-might…find themselves in a precarious position.'" Van Cleave tells Stahl the other main reason is fear of potential gun control under new President Barack Obama.
I read several years ago that Feinstein had a California CCW, also Don Perata.
Doean’t she mean the stranglehold of voters?
Like the bumpersticker?
“I’m the NRA and I vote”
Well, I'm sure if some tipping-point occurs, it will be creatures loyal to the likes of Feinstein who will trigger it, with a compliant leftmedia more than happy to spin it the other way.
"Never let a good crisis go to waste", as these demagogues keeping telling everyone.
We need more stranglehold groups of our own, only ours wouldn’t be dishonest and would be comprised of less militant, more civil VOTERS.
I lived in San Fran when she was mayor and tried banning guns, ran a big buy-back and KEPT HER OWN!
Huge hypocrite not to be trusted.
I’ve had the best luck at gun shows lately buying ammo... What are you looking for?
Last weekend I got 750 rounds of Brown Bear 7.62x39 FMJ for $160 and 1000 rounds of Privi Pratizian .308 FMJ (reloadable) for $700....
What she means is that they are just waiting for a sensational tragedy - a large-casualty shooting event at a campus or school, and then they will fan the hysteria and ram the ban through. (I vividly remember one ad when Robt. Kennedy was shot. It showed crosshairs on the back of some guy in a suit with the title "Call your senator while you still have one and tell him to ban all guns!")
Whenever I put my tinfoil hat on, I always suspect "the fine hand" of the Left somewhere in these tragedies, in order to push their agenda. The three most notorious:
1) The Australian Port Arthur massacre;
2) The British Dunblane Primary School massacre;
3) The American Columbine massacre.
Note the keyword.
Shades of the "Parallax View" - while it's a bit of a stretch, one sometimes wonders if these shooters aren't subtly egged on by THEM. It used to be a wacky thought, but the way things have been going . . .
Anti-freedom: Why not? You cannot be expected to manage your own life my dear pawn.
Feinstein is unbelievable. The NRA “has a stranglehold on Congress”.
Controlling, power mad, meddlers have a strangled hold on the Constitution, Bill of Rights and our government (not to mention the Democratic Party where they’re joined on occasion by “well intentioned” Republicans)
Of course, in their minds all gun owners live in bunkers, are incestuous, backward hicks. Why don’t they interview a hip, hi-tech fellow like you? ;-]
My mom is visiting from LA (the state, not the city). Her handyman was working in her house and got some gunk all over himself. He said, “Ma’am, I’m a gonna have to take a bath and clean myself up. Cause, I might be a redneck, but I ain’t no hillbilly!”
Is that how you tell them apart? ;-]
You know what? I just posted about the same thing, but in thinking about it their hands are around our necks, no?
They want to control every aspect of our lives. You need the help, right?
Larry King, in a revealing moment of exposure of leftist ideology, declared: “someone’s gotta think for the masses!”
It depends on our local/state/Federal law enforcement and military.
Will they side with liberty or against it?
There’s plenty of FReepers who would like to manage your life for you as well.
Nice screen name.
There is actually a vocal contingent of pro-gun posters on DU.
They have somehow grasped the idea that self defense is a good idea, and that guns are a defense against tyranny.
I hope they get into the other portions of the Bill of Rights soon.
I suppose you’re referring to Christians when you say FReepers would “manage your life”.
Liberty REQUIRES morality, it is not hampered by it.
And there's always some totalitarian volunteering.
Not all of them and not this one.
It’s a wonder her finger doesn’t get chapped as much as she holds it in the wind!
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