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.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Both of you comedians need to remember that I'm sitting here with a .50 caliber Barrett on my lap. As you can see by this comparison of rounds, I can hit you anywhere in the Houston area:

Well it's all Flyers fault, he hacked our passwords, you know WE would never talk bad about you!

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't think there's going to a big backlash b/c he's upholding the assault rifle ban. Whether it's a good law or not, a vast majority of people don't think people should be buying assault rifles, RPGs, landmines, and other weaponry of the like.

Well, all those are already illegal without a "NFA class 3".

Even so, you are not seeing the big picture here.

1. It's assault 'weapons', not assault 'rifles'. There's a big difference between the two. An "assault rifle" in the TRUEST definition of the word is a firearm that can shoot full and semi-auto. Those are illegal without a NFA Class III

2. An 'assault weapon' can be anything the government decides it is. This can be your grandfather's shotgun. In Illinois, Daley wants to ban ALL .50 calibers as assault weapons. Almost all shotguns are over .50 caliber. That puts things in perspective.

3. Gunowners were probably(besides Right to Life) Bush's biggest base in the 2000 election. Ask Gore and Klinton. Turning on them is a slap in the face to the voting block with the longest memories in politics.

I was an independent in 2000. I was not a Republican then. My vote for Bush was due to guns(and Janet Reno/Andrew Cuomo specifically).

[Taxman]

I agree.

HST, we have much work to do.

[chnsmok]

Dragon Arms. Colorado Springs. Just looked for his hat.

[Long Cut]

One thing that gives me hope is the way that this President has gone all-out to avoid or correct the mistakes of his father, as Saddam Hussein has learned to his sorrow.

Note also the tax cuts, and the judges (have we forgotten them, folks?), as well as the victories in the Senate last year.

At some level, it MUST be realized that his father's support for this foolishness was a cumulative mistake. It WILL be realized, and avoided, if those who know the truth of it make that PERFECTLY clear to the President.

The time to start is now. Rest assured, the Antis have already begun.

[TexasCowboy]

"I am trying to get a transfer to somewhere safe,"

It's okay if you're scared, HC.
Rika said today that she'd like to shoot it.

[Teacher317]

No, it's not, and I apologize. This is a "hot-button" topic for me as if you couldn't tell. I'm just SO subtle about it! ;^)

[alwaysconservative]

Well get used to the timing aspect of it. With the victory in Iraq, the liberals (and their media delivery system( are going to do everything in their power to make the President look like the bad guy here at home. This is why, even though I may feel strongly about something, I always wait until I hear it from the man himself.

I agree wholeheartedly. That's why I said that the timing is (or should be) incredibly suspicious. One other thing I forgot to mention, and maybe the other posters have already pointed this out (sorry I didn't read a lot of them), is that for the first time EVER since the 1930's, the attorney for the office of the President, the soliciter-general, Ted Olson, has argued in two briefs before the SCOTUS that the 2nd Amendment is a personal, not a state right. Pretty awesomely Constitutional, if you ask me. Ted Olson wouldn't go out on a limb like that without STRONG support from the White House, or without the President's clear and specific approval. This article is a hack job intended to undermine the President's popularity with his own party. "They" can't undermine him with the general public, so they try to turn his own supporters against him. How sleazy (and unfortunately, judging from these posts, effective)!

[TexasCowboy]

"Just HAD to have one, you know."

I know the feeling!
I sold my house and my dog and put my wife on the street selling her wares to buy this one:

I really hope no one drives an Abrams M1A1 tank down my street.

[Jhoffa_]

This article is a hack job intended to undermine the President's popularity with his own party.

I hope you are correct.

Life and Guns are two issues that many conservatives (myself included) are fanatical about.

These things are worth fighting for and any attemt to treat them as "throw away" issues to appease soccer mom's and other fair weather friends won't be easily forgotten, imo.

[chnsmok]

Emulating Mr. Rodgers...Won't you be my neighbor? And get your wife off the street for God's sake! You might give my husband ideas.

[Dan from Michigan]

Ok, I'll bite. I am curious what the difference is. As someone who is pro second amendment, it would help me make an informed opinion on such an issue to understand the difference between the two, as well as why anyone would need an assault rifle. Thank you.

Easiest way to explain it. It's political-speak more than anything else.

1. "Assault weapons" do not equal "assault rifles". Assault RIFLES are firearms that can fire full auto AND semi-auto. They have been illegal since 1933 or 1934 without a NFA Class III license.

2. Assault WEAPONS are a different matter. The original ban was a Bill Klinton special to try and get a camel's nose under the tent. It was more symbolic than anything else. The federal(States are different) - 10 round magazine limit. Bayonet lug. Flash suppressor. These were cosmetic features mostly. It was also a demonization of all semi-autos and many wanted to ban all of those. Most guns out there today ARE semi-auto. 2/3 of the pistols are(including all glocks, 1911's, Sigs, Kimbers). Most .22 rifles are semi-auto. The first gun I fired was a Ruger 10/.22. That's a semi-auto. If the magazine held 11 rounds instead of 10, it would be considered an assault weapon under the Klinton law. That's a gun that dad buys for the kids to teach them how to shoot.

3. The problem also with supporting the extension besides the current ban is that the new ban would have to be a seperate bill. That means that whole new classes of firearms can be added. Daley wants to ban all guns over .50 caliber in Illinois. He's including almost all shotguns in his ban. Those are over .50 caliber.

4. Lastly, the term assault weapon I believe was first coined by Josh Sugarmann. He's one of the heads of VPC, a radical left wing gun grabbing think tank. The term was coined strictly to demonize firearms on their looks so they are easier to ban by scaring people.

[Teacher317]

You really need the tiny .22 round in there as well... with the reminder that the .22 is what was used to kill RFK and Huey Long, and injure President Reagan.

[Dan from Michigan]

Let's say you're living on a decent-sized piece of property and you spot some dudes you know intend to do you and your family harm coming onto that property. An assault rifle allows you (if you know what you're doing) to get off many shots - some come with 20 to 30 round magazines - within a short period of time with a high degree of accuracy at long range. No other type of firearm has that capability.

Rodney King riots, LA. Korean store owners were on the roofs with AR-15's. They needed them.

[NMC EXP]

One thing you purists must learn to understand....

We can't have it all just our way...

And there will always be a limit to...

It's simply not worth the political capital....

Get used to it...

Translation: "When all else fails, lower your standards."

GOP rationale: "So what if the conservatives don't like it? What are they going to do, vote democrat?"

The last two on Timmy's list really grind my guts every time I hear them. Maybe that is why I don't converse with republicans very often these days.

Regards

J.R.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

It's okay if you're scared, HC.

El Roy, at my age, and as beat up, and with the daily pains I have I'm just not afraid of anything .... well except making ^HIM^ mad.

[Eaker]

WE would never talk bad about you!

HC and I don't even talk to each other!!! For that matter I quit talking to myself. No you didn't....yes I did........

< /TexasCowboy >

He invited you to shoot? He told me to bring a glove!!??!!! He mentioned that he wanted me to stand about 2000 meters away and hold a watermelon.

Go figure..............

< TexasCowboy >

[Dan from Michigan]

Full-auto weapons are legal

Not in Michigan for the most part :(

Thank you Frank Kelly!!!!!

[TexasCowboy]

"And get your wife off the street for God's sake! You might give my husband ideas."

Oh, he'd get tired of having to put patches on her and blowing her back up.
I've been thinking about trading her in for one of those new models that actually talk to you.
Mine just lays there with her mouth making that stupid "O".

[Dan from Michigan]

Um, that should be I've *made* a pretty quick turn around (and *downed* a few beers...)

Wings game? :(