Romney signs off on permanent assault weapons ban (2004)

IBerkshires ^ | 7-8-2004

[Darren McCarty]

Governor Mitt Romney has signed into law a permanent assault weapons ban that he says will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on these guns.

'Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts," Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony on July 1 with legislators, sportsmen's groups and gun safety advocates. "These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."

Like the federal assault weapons ban, the state ban, put in place in 1998, was scheduled to expire in September. The new law ensures these deadly weapons, including AK-47s, UZIs and Mac-10 rifles, are permanently prohibited in Massachusetts no matter what happens on the federal level.

"We are pleased to mark an important victory in the fight against crime," said Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. "The most important job of state government is ensuring public safety. Governor Romney and I are determined to do whatever it takes to stop the flood of dangerous weapons into our cities and towns and to make Massachusetts safer for law-abiding citizens."

.....

"Never before has there been such bi-partisan cooperation in the passage of gun safety legislation of this magnitude in this nation," said John Rosenthal, co-founder and chair of Stop Handgun Violence. "I applaud the leadership of the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker and entire Legislature for passage of this assault weapons ban renewal. They have shown that Massachusetts can continue to lead the nation in protecting the public and law enforcement from military style assault weapons."

[Darren McCarty]

For all the dumb-assed sniping going on between backers of Gingrich and Santorum and STUPID accusations of pacts and other wild fantasy conspiracies, let's remember one thing here. They are both better than Mitt Romney. THIS is Mitt Romney's record.

I don't know what the polls are in your state. Here, Santorum leads, and Gingich is either a distant third or fourth depending on which poll. That could change in the last two weeks, but I doubt it as Gingrich is not personally campaigning in Michigan. That's his choice. He's concentrating down South. Santorum is campaigning here. We have a chance to stop this gun grabber in his birth state which he thought he had wrapped up four years ago. That is what I intend to do - deny him a win in his birth state, maybe even setting things up for Gingrich, Paul, and Santorum to fight for the nomination with Romney cast aside.

For now - stop Romney!

[Lazlo in PA]

This is purely the only move a Severely Conservative man would take. Milt says so.

[Downinthedixie]

The fatal flaw in Romney’s thinking is that by outlawing assault rifles that it will in turn lead to greater safety.

In reality, this will only mean criminals, especially hard drug dealers, will have assault rifles.

While I’m not too excited with the idea of granny down the road with an AK, I’m pretty sure the 2nd Amendment is rather clear in its definition.

[KoRn]

Simply proves that he’s just another stupid bastard willing to ban a firearm because of what it looks like.

If I had to choose between an adversary with either a .300 WinMag or an AR15 or AK47, I’d pick the guy with the AR15 or AK47 every time.

[DoughtyOne]

So far even Obama had more sense than this.

What a shMitthead!

[eater-of-toast]

By Romney’s hare-brained logic, you may as well ban semi-automatic pistols, because revolvers are adequate for self-defense and semi-autos only enable mass killers. Idiot.

[DoughtyOne]

With the stroke of a pen this guy would turn millions into felons.

[Tennessee Nana]

Oh yes Willie Mitty made it safe for the people of MASS

Now I wish hed make it safe for the people of the USA

and drop out...

[smokingfrog]

"These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."

I guess mine are feeling neglected.

[tumblindice]

Romney is an idiot. I’ll never vote for him.

Here’s the best definition of an `assault rifle’ I’ve seen:
“a shoulder-fired, select-fire weapon used by an individual soldier, firing an intermediate rifle caliber with a detachable high-capacity magazine.”
`The Gun Digest Book of the AK & SKS,’ Krause Publications, Patrick Sweeney.

The element of this prima facie definition usually lacking in an evil black gun banned by idiots like Romney is that they lack a `select-fire’ feature, or are only semi-automatic; e.g. the `Automat Kalashnikov 1947’ or AK-47 was capable of fully automatic fire.

Did I say Romney is an idiot yet? Just to be sure, George Romney was a mere half-wit while his son Mitt Romney is a complete idiot.

[OL Hickory]

Romney in his own words on guns.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TYWDWRmz-_o

[Mariner]

And SANTORUM voted for the Lautenberg Amendment.

You know, the law that revokes your firearm "privileges" in the event of conviction of a MISDEMEANOR or even if you're under a restraining order anywhere in the 50 states, for any reason.

Only Gingrich and Paul are rock solid on the Second Amendment.

[tumblindice]

“life-long hunter” Romney, he “hunted varmints twice.” “Elk—no, no mooses!”
A moose once bit his sister over a piece of cheese.

Thanks to Mitt, John Moses Browning must be spinning like a top in his coffin.

[RitchieAprile]

depends on how close the encounter.

[tumblindice]

I’ve got a case of the shakes for one of these:
http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/index.html

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Romney: HE DID IT BEFORE AND HE WILL DO IT AGAIN!

[G Larry]

Somebody should ask Mittens, “What is the definition of an assault weapon?”
NO! Not a laundry list of names of weapons, a DEFINITION!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

You can't really buy an AK47, just a look alike semiauto clone.

This is the problem, they can ban many other guns based on the same criteria.

It was foot in the door legislation, only intended to be a starting point.

Romney supporters gush about concessions made to shooters. The concessions were worthless crap.

[Darren McCarty]

And Newt let the appropriations bill with the Lautenberg Amendment go back to the house and pass. He was the Speaker at the time.

Almost EVERYBODY f'ed up with Lautenberg.

[Oztrich Boy]

Here’s the best definition of an `assault rifle’ I’ve seen: “a shoulder-fired, select-fire weapon used by an individual soldier, firing an intermediate rifle caliber with a detachable high-capacity magazine.” `The Gun Digest Book of the AK & SKS,’ Krause Publications, Patrick Sweeney.

That's an assault rifle. Mitt banned assault weapons, defined as

“a hip-fired, spray-fire bullet hose used by an mass murderer, firing an high powered bullet, with a detachable high-capacity clip and a shoulder thing that goes up".”