Posted on 04/14/2003 7:45:39 PM PDT by Uncle Bill
Edited on 04/17/2003 6:40:21 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Ok, so vote against him, genius. Then you can dream about your perfect President during 4 years of John F. Kerry.
I think what scares most of us, if President Bush allows certain things to slide, or gives his approval of something (even by not taking any action at all), or does something that we as Conservatives do not agree with, a liberal can only make it 10, 15, 20 times worse. Many Conservatives don't care now, they foresee a Republican being in the WH for the next 5 years or so. Well, a liberal could win in 2008, 2012, 2016, and anything that President Bush has done, either directly, or by his inaction, that hurts the Conservative cause, can be magnified by a liberal. We had a liberal win after President Reagan and the first President Bush, it can and will happen again, it's the nature of a democracy.
Let me put it in a shorter, more tinfoil-ish way. The time to be fighting gun laws is not when the cops were granted the authority to confiscate them, and not when a city tells its residents the can't own them. Then it's too damn late, and many of us will end up on the news as "another conservative gun owner refused to surrender his guns and ended up in a shootout with the police".
There are several things that will determine if President Bush gets my vote. Granted, I'm in Texas, my vote means little here. But should he waiver or cave-in on any of them, he will not get my vote. I'm sure those who are hysterical about defending him will brand me a traitor or commie or whatever, but screw `em. They should be devoted to the cause and not the person that is supposed to be representing the cause.
Completely agreed. Though it seems we conservatives do differ at times on what causes to devote ourselves to.
As I said in a previous post, I think the arguments against reauthorizing the "assault weapons ban" are valid.
But if President Bush does reauthorize it, will that by itself cause me to vote against him or not vote at all? Likely not.
1994 Crime Bill With Semi-Auto Ban
The 1994 federal "Crime Bill," signed into law by President Clinton on Sept. 13, 1994, included the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. That Act included provisions amending the Gun Control Act (GCA, 1968) to make it a federal crime for a private individual to possess or transfer (sell, give, etc.) an "assault weapon" manufactured after that date. [18 U.S.C. 922(v)]. "Assault weapons" manufactured on or before that date are "grandfathered," meaning that the law does not prohibit their possession or transfer. Government agencies and their agents (the military, police departments, etc.) are exempt from the law. To distinguish between "pre-law" and "post-law" firearms, the law requires that "assault weapons" manufactured after Sept. 13, 1994 be stamped with their date of manufacture. Regulations require that such firearms manufactured after that date be stamped "RESTRICTED LAW ENFORCEMENT/ GOVERNMENT USE ONLY." The law is scheduled to expire on Sept. 13, 2004. The law defines firearms as "assault weapons" by one or both of two methods: name and description. [18 U.S.C. 921(a)(30)]. All told, the law affects more than 175 semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns and revolving cylinder shotguns a cross-section of firearms of various sizes, shapes, and calibers/gauges. Under the law, the term "semiautomatic assault weapon" means:
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Post-law variations of "assault weapons"
Under the law, a firearm is not an "assault weapon" if it does not meet the criteria pertaining to firearm characteristics. Thus, firearm companies may lawfully produce, and consumers may lawfully purchase and possess (unless restricted under state or local law), firearms that are identical to "assault weapons" except for a change of name and/or the absence of one or more of the listed physical features. For example, an Olympic Arms SM-1, (top photo, below) is an "assault weapon." However, the Olympic Arms PCR ("Politically Correct Rifle," bottom photo) is not an "assault weapon," and is not affected by the law, because, though identical to the SM-1 in every other respect, the PCR has only one of the listed features. As the photos show, the distinction between the two rifles is superficial:
Assault weapon" with "conspicuous" grip, bayonet mount, and flash suppressor.
"Politically Correct Rifle" with "conspicuous" grip only
Rifles like those pictured above, generically referred to as "AR-15s," are now the centerfire rifles most commonly used for marksmanship competitions in America. Hundreds of thousands of AR-15s have been manufactured since the law took effect. And while anti-gun activist groups would allege this to be a dangerous circumstance, the fact is that violent crime has declined every year since 1991 and the nation's violent crime rate is now at a 23-year low. Congress' study of the "assault weapons" law questioned the law's value, since the firearms in question were never used in much crime.
"Armor-piercing ammunition"
In 1986, the GCA was amended to prohibit the manufacture or importation of "armor piercing ammunition," defined as "a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium." The 1994 crime bill added to the definition, "a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile."
Regulations and requirements relating to Federal Firearm Licensees
The law requires an FFL applicant to submit fingerprints and photographs to BATF and notify his chief local law enforcement officer of the application. An applicant must certify that the business to be conducted under the license is not prohibited by State or local law, that no business will be conducted until in compliance with State and local laws, and that such laws will be complied with within 30 days after approval of the FFL. Licensees must report to BATF and local law enforcement authorities the theft or loss of a firearm within 48 hours and respond within 24 hours to a BATF request for information about the disposition of firearms related to a criminal investigation. BATF must notify state and local law enforcement authorities of the names and addresses of persons to whom an FFL is issued, and may inspect licensees' records during a criminal investigation. The law extends to 60 days the period BATF has to act on applications.
Restrictions relating to juveniles
The law prohibits the transfer to, or possession by, a juvenile (person under age 18), of a handgun or handgun ammunition, with certain exceptions relating to employment, target practice, hunting, firearms training, service with the Armed Forces or National Guard, in defense against an intruder into the residence of the juvenile or a residence in which the juvenile is an invited guest, and other circumstances with prior written consent of the juvenile's parent or guardian.
Enhanced penalties
The 1994 Crime Bill also imposed a 10 year imprisonment penalty on individuals who, "during in and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime (including a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime which provides for an enhanced punishment if committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or device) for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States," uses or carries a "semiautomatic assault weapon." This penalty is imposed on top of the penalty for the violent or drug trafficking crime. Second and subsequent convictions for carrying or using a "semiautomatic assault weapon" during such a crime are punishable by 20 years imprisonment. [18 U.S.C. 924(c)]
Other federal laws affecting "assault weapons" and other semi-automatic firearms
18 U.S.C. 925(d)(3), imposed by the GCA and later amended, requires the Treasury Secretary to approve for importation any firearm that is "generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes . . . ," with certain exceptions. BATF has regulatory authority to interpret what that language means. In early 1989, following a crime committed with an imported semi-automatic rifle, President Bush ordered BATF to suspend the importation of 43 makes and models of foreign-made semi-automatic rifles (all previously approved for importation) and to review their eligibility for importation. BATF later stated that the rifles were no longer eligible for importation due to their having a folding or telescoping stock, a pistol grip separate from the stock, a bayonet lug, a flash suppressor, etc. BATF found insignificant the fact that such rifles have been used for a half century in formal target shooting competitions, such as the NRA National Championships and the Civilian Marksmanship Program National Matches (the latter conducted under the auspices of the federal government until 1996, on a private basis since). Subsequently, manufacturers and importers removed the attachments and BATF approved the modified rifles for importation. In 1998, President Clinton ordered BATF to suspend importation of about 50 models of modified rifles. Treasury and BATF later co-issued a report finding that the rifles were ineligible for importation because they could use preexisting "large capacity" ammunition magazines.
18 U.S.C. 922(r), imposed in 1990, prohibits "assembling from imported parts any semi-automatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation." BATF's regulation [178.39, Commerce in Firearms] prohibits using more than 10 "imported parts," from a list of 20 parts, such as trigger, hammer, barrel, etc. (BATF had proposed prohibiting using more than two imported parts.) The provision was adopted to prohibit restoring modified rifles to pre-ban configuration after importation.
1. AO-9 Assault Pistol |
63. Egyptian Maadi Thumbhole AKM |
129. Olympic Arms CAR-45 |
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THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE
Listen my children and you will hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
"To arms! To arms!" To spades and hoes?!?
Bury all your guns before the king knows!
Imagine the redcoats, filled with delight-
not one armed colonist stood ready to fight.
Lexington and Concord were burned to the ground,
Crackling flames the only heard sound.
More taxes were levied, more rights denied;
for lack of arms, patriots died.
So listen my children and you SHALL hear-
No country was born, only suffering and fear.
So if tyranny you want, then bury and pray
For the speedy arrival of that "brighter day."
But if Liberty you love and you yearn to be free,
Then live by this motto: DON'T TREAD ON ME!
An excellent poem to be sure, but also a warning that Freedom was not free for one has to remain ever vigilant lest the forces that are bent on enslaving all, will take away the freedoms you cherish!
The next item was originally posted on AR-15.com and I would like to include it here:
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Bill Marcy" - wmarcy@stny.rr.com
Subject: Re: FW: [AR15-L]
I don't know if my whole rant on NEVER REGISTERING is simply guilt. I remember looking back at my grandfather as he was shooting his old bolt action mauser at the troop carrier that had pulled up to our door. My father and mother had been rounded up the same way a year earlier (they used the gun registration/confiscation list). My father had hidden my sister and me under the floor boards, and we watched as they dragged my father and mother out the door. My grandfather came to get us after two days (being two days under a floor with a sister is verging on hell, but we survived it), he took us back to his house and we were schooled in escaping if it ever became necessary.
When we heard the screams from the other families as they were dragged from their homes, the utter lack of defense, other than men kicking and punching at soldiers, who cheerfully clubbed them with rifle buttts, was striking.
When my grandfather pulled out his long hidden mauser, I started to cry. I knew that I would never see him again. I was never so proud of anyone in my life. He kissed my grandmother and pushed us out the back door, it led into a alley, and there was a tunnel that we had prepared that led out into the fields. I stopped at the door and watched as he opened the window slightly, he was like a machine after that, he worked that bolt faster than I can remember seeing anyone else do. I watched for three rounds, I am sure that for each of those three rounds, one soldier fell.
I heard more rounds fired as I got into the tunnel, I also heard automatic fire open up, I don't know how long he held them off, but I do know that we made it to the fields and eventually (through a long route) to America.
Too say I will not allow it to happen here is egotistical as anything I can think of but I do know that I will take my turn at the window this time, and hope that I can do as well as my grandfather did.
Poll Results:
If Congress votes to re-authorize the 1994 Clinton/Feinstein federal so-called "Assault Weapons" ban, gives the bill to President Bush and he signs it into law, would you still vote for him in his bid for re-election to the Presidency in 2004? |
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Hell No, and I'll tell all of my friends to abandon him, too! | 80.9% | 3662 votes | |
No. | 12.3% | 559 votes | |
Yes. | 4.0% | 183 votes | |
Yes, I would still vote for him, even after he proves that he's a traitor. | 2.8% | 125 votes | |
Total Votes: 4529 |
Interpretation of Law Allows Gun Confiscation ("Misdemeanor.. At Anytime Allows Gun Confiscation")
Assault Weapon Confiscation has started in California
Updated Gun Control and related links here
Bush does not, IMO, make drastic policies. He more or less tries to not "muddy the waters" and this way we does not upset the left(with the only exception-Iraq). I think this is what he is doing here... more or less just appeasing the left--for votes one might say.
Why was he banned? He was pretty easygoing and likeable.
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