Posted on 05/14/2009 3:34:48 AM PDT by Man50D
An April 7 report from the Department of Homeland Security branding some conservative groups as rightwing extremists is enough reason to revive former President Bill Clintons idea of an assault-weapons ban, according to an executive of a gun-control group--the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
"I think it certainly helps to make that case because what that report suggests is that there is a rise in the kind of paramilitary activity that we saw actually in years before the Oklahoma City bombing, Dennis Henigan, the vice president for law and policy at the Brady Center, told CNSNews.com Wednesday
Henigan talked about the years before the 1995 Oklahoma City tragedy--when rightwing extremist militia groups (were) out training with assault weapons, training for war against the United States government, training to shoot federal law enforcement, he said.
Now, unfortunately there is very credible evidence that that is beginning to happen again, Henigan added later. So, there is no place on our streets for these kinds of military weapons.
He described assault weapons as being designed for war, adding that, they are designed basically to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible in a battlefield situation.
Henigan spoke to CNSNews.com after he testified before a House subcommittee on Capitol Hill in support of the No Fly, No Buy Act of 2009, sponsored by New York Democratic Reps. Carolyn McCarthy and Steve Israel.
Neither McCarthy nor Israel answered inquiries from CNSNews.com to comment on Heinigan's comment.
The legislation, which is still in draft form and has not been introduced yet, is aimed at keeping individuals that are on the Department of Homeland Securitys Transportation Security Administration no fly list from being able to purchase guns. The no fly list is aimed at keeping suspected terrorists off planes.
In response to Henigans comments, the National Rifle Association told CNSNews.com that the Brady Center was exploiting the DHS report to push its political agenda.
Mr. Henigans employer has been trying to re-enact this gun ban by exploiting the tragic situation thats occurring in Mexico right now as a result of violence by drug cartels, NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam told CNSNews.com.
Now hes using a report that was widely criticized by various people as being insulting to our veterans and I think this is just further proof they will say anything and will do anything to push their political agenda with little or no regard for fact, he added.
The NRA spokesman further pointed out that during the 10 years when the assault weapons ban was the law, studies show, the ban was ineffective.
Numerous studies, without including studies commissioned by the Clinton Justice Department--in every single one of those studies it was found that the ban was worthless, Arulanandam told CNSnews.com.
As a result, 10 years after this law was enacted, it was allowed to expire, he added.
In April, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano released a report warning that right-wing extremists were gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues--including the election of President Obama and the economic downturn.
The report, which is considered insulting by many conservatives, warns of the dangers of anti-government groups and others in opposition to abortion or immigration--as well as returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, who, it said face significant challenges reintegrating into their communities.
According to the report: Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of rightwing extremist groups, as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government.
The report added that the high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions in some parts of the country has become a primary concern for law enforcement.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
It has been said many times before, but I’ll say it again:
My gun has killed less people than Ted Kennedy’s car.
Back in the early 80s, I attended a speech by the late Arkady Shevchenko, then the highest ranking Soviet official to defect to the West. He had been their top guy at the UN.
He spoke, interestingly, at KENNESAW COLLEGE — and we all know what Kennesaw is famous for! Im proud to have played a a small role in helping Mayor Darvin Purdy get that legislation through the Kennesaw City Council.
His talk dealt with the clear intent of the leadership of the old Soviet Union to somehow take America. He mentioned their ICBMs and the nuclear blackmail threat they posed.
Then he broke from his prepared remarks and offered the audience this wisdom:
“The leaders of my country are as AFRAID OF YOUR 200 MILLION PRIVATE FIREARMS as they are of your ICBMs. NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUNS.”
Frankly — and, while he had to be careful as he was under FBI protection at the time, Shevchenko alluded to this in his remarks — I’m as concerned about some domestic tyrant (say, a Hillary, Nancy Pelosi, Barack HUSSEIN Obama or Chuck Schumer) as I am about some foreign enemy.
And it is THAT threat about which the Founding Fathers were concerned that prompted them to leave us the Second Amendment.
The BIG question is: WILL WE KEEP IT?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j73SsNFgBO4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg9q9sxJFnA
I’d love to know how the author thinks that makes the case.
Go ahead Henigan, kick that hornets nest.
assault wife....I have one ;)
Who are the militia? are they not ourselves. Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American...The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.
Tenche Coxe Pennsylvania Gazette Feb. 20, 1788
“If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual State. In a single State, if the persons intrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair.”
The Federalist Papers No. 28
I know it sounds wierd, but working within the Administration the first term, before going active duty, Bush said, "I SUPPORT THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN IN ITS CURRENT FORM".
The key word is "IN ITS CURRENT FORM" which was legalese/political talk that supported the sunset provision.
Hell, I supported the AWB "in its current form" because it had a sunset provision.
He didn't use his executive office to push policy for renewal, nor would he sign it if it got to his desk, and he also had the luxury of a House and Senate that would prevent new legislation from reaching the floor.
BUSH I on the other hand....idiot.....concerning guns.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Interesting.
As to Bush I I remember his debate with Reagan and the comments about controlling handguns, as well as his attack on Wayne LaPierre.
I simply don’t like or trust the Bushes on anything anymore.
Obviously they are yet again not aware that this is a button they do not want to push...
To lie about the problem, deflect attention from the real source of the issue, and then infringe...
Seems to me that is not the right way to go...
But then again I am preaching to the choir...
Thats one smart SOB
But not "smart" enough to avoid capture after supposedly single-handedly blowing up a building full of men, women, and children, when he had a loaded 9mm on the seat, and got pulled over by a cop while he was making his 'getaway' in a car with no license plates....(what's one more murder??)
What happened to all the middle-eastern looking 'John Does'?
Imho, this was blamed on "right winged extremists" to take the heat off Janet Reno et. al. over Waco, and ignoring the Islamic connections just brought us one step closer to 9/11.
Here we go again.
Well if the fox ain’t in the hen house, then I have no clue what the h@ll is going on!
Precisely. Unalienable.
With the M14 in full auto it has way too much kick - you are right, but I LOVE the way that weapon fires straight and true in single shot mode! Very accurate and smooth!
Now, don’t get me wrong, the M16 is a fine weapon, but it isn’t everything that it was made out to be! Some AK47’s fire as smoothly and accurately as the M16 - when it is well maintained.
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