As I Predicted, George W. Bush Is Backing Bill Clinton's Gun Ban

In this column dated December 17, 2002, I predicted that President G.W. Bush would support the so-called assault weapons ban first promoted by former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Diane Feinstein back in 1994. Interestingly enough, the gun ban became law on the strength of a tie-breaking vote by then Vice President Al Gore. The ban is scheduled to sunset next year, but Bush is joining Clinton and Gore in supporting an extension.

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The president supports the current law (the Clinton gun ban), and he supports reauthorization of the current law."

This must come as quite a blow to people such as the leaders of the National Rifle Association who campaigned heavily for Bush touting him as a "pro-gun" candidate. Since his election, the NRA and others have repeatedly reaffirmed their support for Bush, because he is "pro-gun." Well, now the mask is off!

I have tried to warn my readers that Bush is not a true conservative. He is not pro-life; he is not pro-family; he is not pro-Constitution. And now we know he is not pro-gun.

Instead of reversing the miserable policies of Clinton/Gore, Bush is helping to harden the cement around those policies. The gun issue is no exception.

The so-called assault weapons ban was the benchmark piece of legislation reflecting the anti-gun policies of people such as Clinton, Gore, Feinstein, and New York Senator Charles Schumer. It was also the number one target of the NRA. In fact, the NRA all but promised their supporters that a Bush presidency would help reverse this Draconian gun ban. Instead, Bush is pushing Congress to extend the ban.

A bill to reauthorize the gun ban will be introduced by Senator Feinstein in the coming weeks. It must pass both chambers of Congress to reach the President's desk. The best chance of stopping it will be in the House of Representatives. However, in order to defeat this bill, it must resist the power and influence of the White House. This will be no small task.

Not only is Bush betraying the pro-gun voters who helped elect him, he is breathing new life into a nearly dead anti-gun movement. Most political analysts credit Bush's pro-gun image as the chief reason he defeated Al Gore in the 2000 election. They also credit the pro-gun image of the Republican Party for helping them to achieve impressive wins in the 2002 congressional elections.

Now, Bush is giving new credibility to anti-gun zealots such as Schumer and Feinstein and is helping to reinvigorate the anti-gun momentum that had all but been put on ice.

However, the real question will be, "Will pro-gun conservatives continue to support Bush?" Bush is every bit the "Teflon President" that Clinton was. Conservatives seem willing to overlook anything he does, no matter how liberal or unconstitutional it may be. Will they overlook this, also?

If you truly believe in the Second Amendment and are willing to do something about it, I suggest you go to the Gun Owners of America website. They have a quick link set up which allows people an opportunity to conveniently send email to the White House about this issue. Go to the gun ban "alert" button. From there you can voice your disapproval with the President's decision to betray his constituents by supporting this new round of gun control.

Once again, the ball of freedom and constitutional government is in the court of the American people. Will they keep the ball and do something with it, or will they hand it off to the neo-conservatives at the White House? We'll see.

"That’s why I’m for instant background checks at gun shows. I’m for trigger locks."
George W. Bush - Source: St. Louis debate Oct 17,2000.

MORE INJUSTICE ON THE WAY - Bush GUN CONTROL
"Gene Healy, a Cato Institute scholar, recently provided a thorough exploration of the unintended consequences of one law, the new Bush-Ashcroft plan to federalize gun crimes, known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The unintended consequences of this law are frightening."
NOTE: Same Article in Washington Times.

"W. Wimps Out on Guns"
The Bush package includes several pet causes of the gun-control lobby, including $75 million for gun locks; $15.3 million for 113 new federal attorneys to serve as full-time gun prosecutors; and $19.1 million to expand a program by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms aimed at preventing youths from obtaining guns. Although Bush stressed that he simply wants to "enforce existing laws," the fine print of Project Safe echoes the gun-grabbing Left's call to ban the importation of high-capacity ammunition clips."

LAURA BUSH:
"During her San Diego speech, for instance, she said nothing about the school shooting that occurred 20 miles away in El Cajon the day before, although in a television interview she condemned it, adding that she thinks more gun control laws are needed.

"I think that's very important," she said when asked by CNN whether stronger gun laws are needed."
Source.

"Here is a partial list of conservative issues/values that Bush stands for: 1. prolife; 2. prolife ultra-conservative judges; 3. probably the biggest tax cut we've ever had; 4. war on terrorism; 5. war on Afghanistan and attempt at democracy in their country; 6. war on Iraq, regime change of Saddam, removal of chemical weapons once they're found, and democracy; 7. tough hardline stance against North Korea, who are now changing their tune, now that they see we are willing to fight; 8. hardline stance against Syria, which will probably result in the release of Iraqi leadership they are harboring; 9. a strong Christian faith and moral foundation which shapes his decisions, because he has convictions.

You see. I do have the guts to answer questions, unlike many of the blowhards in this thread, who are nothing but malcontents."
1,057 posted on 04/16/2003 6:28 PM PDT by diamond6

1. " prolife;"

BUSH SIGNS LARGEST FAMILY PLANNING BILL IN U.S. HISTORY
"On Thursday, January 10, 2002, the White House reported President Bush signed the ominous $15.4 billion foreign appropriations bill, H.R. 2506, for fiscal-year 2002. The bill authorizes $446.5 million U.S. tax dollars to be given to other countries for abortion-family planning activities throughout the world. The abortion-family planning funds approved by Bush represents an increase of $21.5 million over last year for international family planning."

The Bush administration has approved the first federally funded project using stem cells obtained from fetuses aborted up to eight weeks after conception

Bush’s Walk Doesn’t Match His Talk On Life Issue

Bush White House Killed Human-Cloning Ban

2. "prolife ultra-conservative judges;"

Bush Appoints 5 Pro-Abortion Judges

Bush’s Court Jester - "The man charged by President Bush with screening potential U.S. Supreme Court justice nominees believes the Constitution is a "living document"
Note: Scalia - "this theory of the living Constitution will destroy us, it will destroy the federal courts,"

3. "probably the biggest tax cut we've ever had"

LOL! Bush "allows" us to have a few bucks of "our money" back, then, sends us a tax bill in the mail for $30,000+ more than when he tripped into the White House, and you’re excited? And your an attorney? Scary. I’m only going to list just a few links to hundreds of documents outlining Bush’s socialist bonanza accomplishments as the entire list would take me weeks. I’m not taking the time. You’re not worth it.

Bush budget contains $10 in new spending for every dollar in tax cuts, Libertarians say

George W. Bush’s Big Government Accomplishments

"This farm bill will cost the average American taxpaying family $4,300 in higher taxes."

Blowing the Budget. Bush’s budget means more spending, more government. Roughly $20K per household

HOW CONSERVATIVE IS PRESIDENT BUSH?
"In less than two years, President Bush has presided over more government expansion than took place during eight years of Bill Clinton."

Bush's Compassionate Conservatism Will Undermine the Republicans and Capitalism

Welfare for the Left, Welfare for the Right, Welfare for the World

A Government Limited To What?

"Not over my dead body will they raise your taxes,"
George W. Bush - SOURCE.

President George W. Bush - Biography

SOURCE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/gwbbio.html

"George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. Formerly the 46th Governor of the State of Texas, President Bush has earned a reputation as a compassionate conservative who shapes policy based on the principles of limited government,..."

Bush is fighting terrorism and doesn’t even know who the enemy is.

I can post more of George’s "conservatism" if you like.

Be a malcontent or a blowhard, show Bush the door in 2004

Don't Get Fooled Again - "I've been advocating voters refuse to support any candidate for office who does not acknowledge the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution" - Joseph Farah

"I believe in freedom of speech"

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A NATION OF COWARDS