The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban - A Public Opinion Nightmare

The Federal Observer ^ | 3 March 2003 | Ryan VanOrden

[MarkL]

Agreed. This is on par with the "COP KILLER BULLETS", although no cop has EVER been killed with one. They just hung that moniker on them to elicit public concern.

Actually, the issue itself DID affect the number of police officers killed. Before the issue of "cop killer bullets" came up, with (I believe) NBC shouting it from the rooftops, the criminal element generally knew nothing about protective vests. Police agencies begged the network from doing their segments, which could have put the lives of police officers in danger. Since the network had a political agenda, and wanted ratings, they ran with the story, and as a result, criminals found out that many police officers wore protective vests, and the number of officers who were shot in the head went up. I believe that if you look into the dates, there is evidence that thanks to the anti-gunners, spouting off about "cop killer bullets," more cops were killed.

Mark

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

--it has to do with something called "winning"-- there is no politician so powerless as one out of office nor any group so powerless than one with no representation in the legislative body--

Like I wrote; politics trumps principles.

Remember this as you re-elect the powerful who work to disarm you.

[Zack Nguyen]

The bill was then allowed to die in the Democrat controlled Senate and the Assault Weapons Ban stood.

This is inaccurate. In 1996, the Senate was controlled by Republicans.

[Zack Nguyen]

But..why don't they? Many people at my church say that politics and the Bible don't mix, especially when their Machinist Union job depends on supporting a Demican baby killer candidate.

Wow. That is a chilling indictment. I find more Christians are picking up on the idea that their witness should extend to politics. But you will always have people who are hypocritical enough to "oppose political action by Christians" because to do so would force them to face their voting habits.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

No matter what else Bush may accomplish, should he sign a revival or extension of the assault weapons ban, I will donate ten thousand dollars to Hillary!

I would rather have the whole country burn now, than be choked to death ever so slowly. My children, my brothers' children, my friend's children are of an age to fight. So am I, so are my brothers, my cousins, so are most of my friends.

There's no better time than the present to settle this and all the other issues, in a permanent way.

If the pubs won't stand firm for the Constitution, then bring on Hillary! and bring on the civil war.

[AdamSelene235]

No offense intended, but I'll believe that when I see an elephant fly.

Crap like this is why I oppose democracy. Pick up Bastiat's The Law sometime.

[jjm2111]

Thank you very much for this heads up. I'll check it from home.

[jjm2111]

Guess what, if this law is renewed by a Republican controlled congresss, and signed into Law by a Republican controlled President, I'll vote for the Libertarians.

[jjm2111]

No matter what else Bush may accomplish, should he sign a revival or extension of the assault weapons ban, I will donate ten thousand dollars to Hillary!

Can you send me a copy of the cleared check? Also, don't do that, buy gold.

[Nov3]

I am already DONE with the Republicrat/Demican party. Here is an alternative..

http://www.constitutionparty.com/

The US Constitution party fully supports individual rights to keep and bear arms

They are a real powerhouse at getting legislation through congress. Nobody will cross them!< /sarcasm>

[Southack]

"This is inaccurate. In 1996, the Senate was controlled by Republicans."

Not exactly. Republicans won the 1996 elections in November (except that they lost the Presidency again), but those Senators didn't get sworn in until January of 1997.

[Southack]

I don't see the Assault Weapons law being renewed.

Republicans have already passed two pro-gun "arming pilots" bills into national law in the last year, so the trend is a long way from being pro-gun control.

Plus, it's too easy to stop anything from happening in the Senate by "filibustering".

So getting a House that just voted in two pro-gun laws, and then getting a Senate that did likewise to vote contrary to those two laws for a new gun control bill seems rather unlikely, and then having GWB sign it into law seems even unlikelier still.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I will scan it in and post it here.

As for metals, I have some gold, but I believe more in copper, brass and lead.

[Servant of the Nine]

Fortunately, this will come up for renewal, if at all, just before the 2004 elections. No Republican can win if he goes against the NRA that close to an election.

So9

[IMHO]

It would seem, by current events and those past, that most conservatives have no representation in the Republican Party. I reject the argument that voting for my preferred candidate is a vote for the other side, thus I tend to vote libertarian. (If I had any evidence that the Republicans would reverse the 90+ year slide, I might be a supporter)

[Ancesthntr]

If the pubs won't stand firm for the Constitution, then bring on Hillary! and bring on the civil war.

I hate to say it, but I agree with you. Of course, I'd much prefer to win at the ballot box, to make the Democrapic Party a thing of historical ridicule, than to have to resort to the cartridge box.

I hope that the gun-grabbers understand the rage out there. Our sheep-like Canadian neighbors are just plain not registering guns (or are gumming up the system by registering glue guns, etc.), and this has the libs up there totally shocked - what will Americans do? Americans that are veterans in large numbers, Americans who have far more guns per capita (at least in the South and West), and Americans whose very freedom was born from the spilling of the blood of the soldiers of the "legitimately constituted authority" of the day. I'd not want to be on the opposite side of the 1 in 10,000 who take up arms - that would amount to some 8,000 riflemen (and -women), who would be a whole lot better motivated, trained and equipped than the "sniper" sickos that held the entire DC area hostage for several weeks. And if it is more than 1 in 10,000, then watch out!

As for metals, I have some gold, but I believe more in copper, brass and lead.

Having the latter will get you lots of the former, should push come to shove.

[Zack Nguyen]

Well, the Senate was taken by Republicans in 1994. Their control was consistent from 1994 to 2001. I believe I am accurate in this.

[Travis McGee]

Are the anti-freedom gun grabboids really stupid enough to push our nation into this future?

[Eaker]

Are the anti-freedom gun grabboids really stupid enough to push our nation into this future?

Matt, the "grabboids" don't think that we have the stones to actually fight back.....ever.

They indeed think that we will go quietly into the night.

Stay safe; stay armed.

[45Auto]

Politics is a dirty little business practiced by dirty little people in dirty places, like the US Senate. RKBA advocates and those who want to live in relative liberty must put as much pressure as possible on representatives of the Republican Party and on any 'moderate' (if there are any) or pro-2nd demonRATs to allow this egregious piece of trash-law to sunset. We should use every means at our disposal to persuade President Bush to change his mind and urge Congressional leaders to whip the bastards into shape on this issue. The only thing legislators understand is money and power; and they need the former in order to get and maintain the latter. If they think they can get the money/power and still stab the Constitution in the back, they will do it. Its up to us to convince them otherwise. A lot of re-thinking is going to happen should this unconstitutional law be renewed; should the worst happen, that will be the time to consider other options.