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Posted on 01/13/2013 9:24:59 PM PST by Texas Fossil
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the nation’s largest gun retailers to participate in a temporary moratorium on selling assault-style rifles until Congress has considered legislation to reduce gun violence.
>snip
A copy of Schumer’s letter can be found below:
Michael Duke Chief Executive Officer Wal-Mart
Thomas Millner Chief Executive Officer Cabela’s
James Hagale Chief Executive Officer Bass Pro Shops
David Pratt Chief Executive Officer Gander Mountain
Darrell Webb Chief Executive Officer Sports Authority
Rodney Faldyn Chief Executive Officer Academy Sports and Outdoors
Steven G. Miller Chief Executive Officer Big Five Sports
Dear Mr. Duke, Mr. Millner, Mr. Hagale, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Webb, Mr. Faldyn, and Mr. Miller,
I write today with a heavy heart; the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut, has left an indelible imprint on our national psyche. As a parent, my heart goes out to all of those who lost loved ones in the tragedy as well as the survivors. The people of Newtown —and all our fellow Americans—will have a long journey to try to understand how such a horrific event could occur. On a national level, there is a thoughtful discussion underway about specific legislative approaches to prevent a senseless massacre like this from occurring again. In the meantime, I respectfully request that you temporarily suspend all sales of assault rifles such as the Bushmaster .223 assault rifle and AK-47 rifle.
The Bushmaster .223 allowed Adam Lanza to fire enough rounds to put multiple bullets in each of the twenty slaughtered children in a span of two minutes. It may be that there is an appropriate role for weapons like the Bushmaster in the hands of civilians, but today it is difficult to imagine what that might be. I hope to work together with you to evaluate our laws and identify the best way to balance the rights of individuals with our responsibility to protect the most innocent among us. I am disturbed, however, that while that conversation is ongoing, sales of assault rifles are reportedly skyrocketing and those resistant to change are planning events such as “National Gun Appreciation Day” to protest these conversations. I believe that these activities are counterproductive to the open dialogue we have begun.
As the President recently said, “Our first task [is] caring for our children. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.” I agree with the President and believe that every necessary step must be taken to protect innocent children. Therefore, during this time of grief, reflection, and sadness, I would ask that you follow the action of some of your peers and suspend sales on assault rifles both online and in your retail stores. I also hope that you will join in a conversation with the American people regarding these weapons and how to appropriately respect both the Second Amendment and the safety of our children.
Thank you,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
“Our first task [is] caring for our children. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.”
**
Really, Chuck?
The hypocrisy here is steaming, like a massive pile of DUNG.
Take care of ALL children, born and unborn.
You’re NOT getting it right, Senator.
A boot up the backside is an “assault” weapon but I don’t see WM cutting back on boot sales.
“Assault rifles are full auto. WalMart does not sell Class 3 firearms.”
Yeah, yeah, I know. And they’re magazines, not clips. So you go ahead and engage in a semantic argument. Meanwhile, the left is going to be busy taking away anything that even RESEMBLES an “assault weapon.” Don’t think for a moment that when they draft the law, your insistence on technical correctness will protect anything. They’ll write it in such a way that includes guns that you don’t believe are “assault weapons.”
Doesn’t matter what you call them, they’re coming after them.
” U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the nation’s largest gun retailers to participate in a temporary moratorium on selling assault-style rifles until Congress has considered legislation to reduce gun violence.”
Which should take only, oh, about a hundred years or so.
Chuck you, Schumer
It behooves you then, Senator, to also write every major abortion provider in the United States and ask that they temporarily suspend use of vacuum aspirators in their clinics. It's in the interest of protecting innocent children.
Walmart, Retailers Call on Schumer to Stop Molesting Collies
Plain and simple, this is leveraging the lives of these innocent dead children for political puposes. It is sick. It is disgusting. It is a raw appeal to emotion and it is beneath dignity.
I believe that Walmart has SUSPENDED SALES OF WEAPONS & AMMO, as in totally sold out! Nothing left on the shelves but a few boxes of bird shot and .22 Shorts.
There may have been one box of .45-70 left.
Yes, this is vile Democrats Gone Wild demagoguery. Just as bad is the GOP Senators letting this stuff go without a response.
They are totally cowed or just don’t care. That is why they are the minority and our country is fading away into the dust bin of history.
He is wetting his pants over this.
Yep, although I actually did find some 9mm at Walmart yesterday. I was shocked. The clerk said he had just put it out 20 minutes before I got there. I only bought half of it, should have grabbed it all.
Cry me a river, Senator. You're disturbed law abiding American who disagree with this push for a BAN are buying up weapons that would be effected by such ban?
Schumer is trying to shame and bully law abiding Americans by standing on the backs of dead children to move his government power-grabbing agenda.
I've observed over countless years, there is no bigger demagogic ass in the US Senate than Chuck Schumer.
I am not an NRA member; I've never owned or fired a weapon but I see clearly what the agenda is here. I'm even more incensed by the crass, callous, manipulative tactics being deployed.
Congress should suspend passing legislation until it demonstrates a basic understanding of the US Constitution.
Yeah, that means you Chucko Schmucko. Why are you even debating "gun control" legislation? You completely lack the legitimate authority to impose any such legislation. To introduce a gun-control bill, or to vote for it, is to violate your oath of office.
This is not the first time Walmart has suspended sales of a firearm. They used to sell pistols till pressure from THE BRADY BUNCH (HCI) got them to stop.
Then after the Clinton AW ban they quit selling the bowdlerized versions of the firearms. They started selling them again not long ago, now they have quit again.
Dear Mr. Schumer:
While you claim to be engaging in a “conversation” regarding ways to prevent more senseless violence, and use the Newton school massacre as a backdrop for these “discussions”, the reality is that only one side of the conversation is allowed any voice, specifically the side calling for more restrictive anti-gun legislation. When only one side is allowed a voice, the result is a lecture and not a conversation. Are you willing to engage in a true conversation on the issue? Are you willing to listen to and seriously consider options that involve equipping and training our educators and other responsible adults in schools to protect innocent children from psychotic murderers when every second counts but the police are still minutes away?
You speak of balancing individuals’ rights against the need to protect the most innocent, but at the same time you seek to strip individuals of their right to protect themselves and those around them. Your letter bemoans the fact that citizens, alerted to the current assault on their rights, are purchasing more semi-automatic rifles (that you erroneously categorize as “assault weapons”) and criticizes the swelling grassroots support for a massive exercise of First Amendment rights (freedom of speech and right to peaceably assemble) in support of our Second Amendment rights. Your letter specifically states that this activity by citizens is “counterproductive to the open dialogue we have begun”. The problem is: there is no dialogue, only lecture. It is clear that the anti-gun forces are determined to use this incident as a catalyst for restricting gun rights and not as a call for solutions. The “let no crisis go to waste” approach articulated by the President’s former Chief of Staff is clearly on display.
You have asked retailers to withdraw from the market “during this time of grief, reflection, and sadness” but you and your colleagues are attempting to use the emotions of this time of grief to silence your opposition and push legislation through the system that you would not be able to push when there really is a dialogue on the issue. Such attempts to use the deaths of these innocent children and their brave but equally defenseless teachers as cover – like lifeless human shields – for your agenda of banning and confiscating legal guns from law-abiding citizens is offensive and outrageous. I hope that you will set aside your agenda and join in a TRUE conversation – one that would require you to stop talking long enough to actually listen to some ideas that haven’t been previously tried and demonstrated as complete failures. Until then, we will continue to serve our customers and provide them the best equipment and service that we can in our commitment to the security and freedom of our citizens under the Constitution of the United States of America.
Thank you,
A CITIZEN, not a subject
PS: To quote another great citizen, Ted Nugent, KISS MY ASS!
Nuts
Trust me he KNOWS. He just doesn't care. Moreover, he puts all firearms in the same category. Semi auto rifles are just the start. Before he's done all side by side and over-under shotguns will have exactly the same description and the same eventual fate.
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