Bush Backs Renewing Assault Weapons Ban

Washington Post ^ | April 12, 2003 | Unknown

[Mini-14]

The Bush administration is bucking the National Rifle Association and supporting a renewal of the assault weapons ban, set to expire just before the presidential election. "The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told Knight Ridder.

Tossing out the ban on semiautomatic weapons is a top priority of the NRA. Bush said during his presidential campaign that he supported the ban, but it was less clear whether he would support an extension.

[newgeezer]

Now, I'm as pro-Second Amendment as anybody. But, this is truly amazing if you think about it. It appears that, if there'd been enough "litmus test" voters in our ranks, and the left had convinced enough of us during the 2000 campaign that Bush would consider supporting the extension, we could be coping with President Gore today.

Incredible.

[lainie]

Here's one.. looking for others.

http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/guam/41/ar15/georgew.htm

Gun restrictions OK within basic right to own guns

Bush opposed repeal of the 1994 assault weapon ban and indicated his openness to Clinton’s call to raise the age of legal handgun ownership from 18 to 21. But Bush opposed Clinton’s call for reinstituting 3-day waiting periods for gun purchases, saying he preferred instant background checks. And while he said he could support national legislation to extend such instant checks to purchases at unregulated gun shows, he’s made no effort to support a state bill that would have done just that in Texas. Source: L.A. Times May 1, 1999

[Kevin Curry]

If true, he's going to alienate some of his core supporters while receiving no credit whatsoever from leftist gun-haters.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I've learned to watch and see what he does.

However, if this bill is extended or replaced by another, I wash my hands of him, even if it is raining gold and the entire world is singing happy somgs of peace. I would stay with him if the economy is still struggling, if we suffer reverses in the WOT, if my own neighborhood was blown up by terrorists, but if he turns against the Constituition he's gone.

I find that I can not believe he will.

[lainie]

I don't like it either, but it's indefensible.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

I assume that everyone here who opposes the ban was written a letter to the President expressing their vehement opposition, right?

I voted for G.H.W.B. in 1992 after his 1989 import ban and latter regretted it. It is in the best interests of everyone here (even the Blind Bush Backers) to remind the President and his advisors that unlike democrats, Republicans vote principle over personality.

[The Coopster]

Longer, apparently, than it took for you to post a rude comment.

Debate the topic, by all means. FWIW, I don't agree with it, either. But you don't see people sponaneously posting for you to get over Buchannan, do you?

[JudgemAll]

I would hope that threads on criticism of Bush not go out of hand and emphasised a certain discipline on finding the truth and clarifying it about Bush, instead of politicking for pet preference issues and "holier than though" statements criticizing Bush.

[The Coopster]

So, you'll vote Democrat?

[Teacher317]

If Bush signs this, it will be his "No new Taxes" statement.

The fact that he promises to is enough for me. We apparently have a domestic rubber-stamp who won't stand up to anything that comes from Congress.

Personally, I worked my butt off to help him get elected so that, in part, these moronic bills could be stopped. I didn't do it so that I would have to work my butt off all over again to prevent Congress from sending him those bills in the first place because he is too gutless to stand up and do the right thing.

[lainie]

Cmon, is that seriously what you think of people concerned about what is obviously an abuse of power and lack of trust issue? At a time of war no less?

[The Coopster]

See # 49. You, too?

[RJL]

I've been concerned about this. This could be President Bush "Read my lips, no new taxes" moment".

The only good thing is, I don't believe the renewal will make it through the House of Representatives, so he won't really have to show his cards.

It would be a shame if President Bush lost many of the 4.1 million NRA votes in a close election.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

If Bush supports this ban, I will give money to Hillary!

Better to meet the enemy head on than to be betrayed from within.

[Saturnalia]

This is a brilliant plan by Bush to lose votes!

[The Coopster]

Too late. Too many people still aren't over Buchannan or Keyes. I guess they'll just vote Democrat, or screw up the election by voting for a third party candidate who hasn't got a chance.

[The Coopster]

Oh, that's an intelligent move. Although, she would be the best candidate right now - to get trounced.....

[lainie]

No; I'm not an idiot. And I gave the guy a chance. We gave the the executive branch and the party both houses, didn't we?

Frankly, if having Republican president = gun bans, who cares who's in the White House. That's the whole point.

[Teacher317]

we could be coping with President Gore today.

That excuse has been exhausted. At this point, we can compare the progress we made under Clinton with just a GOP House to the progress (or lack there-of) with Bush, a GOP House, and a GOP Senate. Since the race domestically is too close to call (and that's being generous), this threat no longer scares me. When a die-hard Leftist is in office, the fence-sitters wake up enough to prevent the worst of the worst. When the GOP is in office, they go back to sleep, and we get huge budget increases, important legislative initiatives defeated, and half of the GOP celebrating it.

Bring on Edwards or Kerry. We'll eat him alive even if he is disgracing the White House.

[PuNcH]

It appears that, if there'd been enough "litmus test" voters in our ranks, and the left had convinced enough of us during the 2000 campaign that Bush would consider supporting the extension, we could be coping with President Gore today. Incredible.

It is incredible that we have such a hard time getting a president that respects the constitution. We are always running in fear of the ass who will step on our rights the most.