Posted on 04/19/2003 7:02:08 AM PDT by TLBSHOW
Feinstein and Schumer Welcome President Bush's Support of Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization
- Seek to Work with President to Swiftly Reauthorize Ban, Close Clip-Importation Loophole - April 16, 2003
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) welcomed the announcement that President George W. Bush supports the reauthorization of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, which is set to expire in 2004.
In an article published this weekend, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law."
Senators Feinstein and Schumer, authors of the original assault weapons legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives, will introduce legislation to reauthorize the ban shortly after Congress returns from recess. The legislation would:
Reauthorize the prohibition on manufacture, transfer, and possession military-style assault weapons, while protecting hunting rifles and other firearms. Close the clip-importation loophole, which prohibits the sale of domestically produced high-capacity ammunition magazines, but allows foreign companies to continue to bring them into the country by the millions.
Preserve the right of police officers and other law enforcement officials to use and obtain newly manufactured semi-automatic assault weapons.
In a letter to President Bush, the Senators wrote: "As the original authors of the Assault Weapons Ban in the Senate and the House, we strongly believe that military-style assault weapons have no place on America's streets and should be banned. In 1994, we fought hard to win passage of the original ban, and shortly after Congress returns from the spring recess we plan to introduce legislation that would reauthorize it.
This is why we were pleased to see that your spokesman Scott McClellan reiterated your support for the ban and its reauthorization this weekend when he said, 'The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law.'
We welcome your support and look forward to working with you to gain swift passage of this legislation. The current ban is due to expire in September 2004 and in order to continue to keep these weapons off the streets, it is imperative that the reauthorization bill becomes law.
As part of the reauthorization, we also plan to include language to close a loophole in the 1994 law, which prohibits the domestic manufacture of high-capacity ammunition magazines, but allows foreign companies to continue sending them to this country by the millions. A measure that would have closed this loophole passed the House and Senate in 1999 by wide margins, but got bottled up in a larger conference due to an unrelated provision. You indicated your support for closing this loophole during the 2000 presidential campaign, and now, with your help, we can prevent the manufacture and importation of all high-capacity clips and drums.
Once again, thank you for your leadership on this matter. With your assistance, we will be able to pass legislation to continue the ban and help make America's streets safer."
Let me guess...charm school graduate?
So any restriction on your "freedom" is bad?
I think your idea of freedom is actually unrestricted license and that is not a Constitutional guarantee.
As Belial pointed out when do we allow the general public to own "shoulder-held SAM launchers"?
Nevermind that these firearms can bring down an airliner.
Heh! We need our "freedoms"![translated unrestricted license]
I have a hard time attributing that as a Founding Father principle.
You have a Republican president.
I want a genuinely Conservative president.
Interesting. Are you saying it would be wrong to walk around carrying such a weapon?
Just remember, bro, the 1st Amendment has been hacked already, by our current president, who said he didn't like CFR, but signed it anyway!!!. CFR is nothing short of an unconstitutional infringement on the 1st, and (to the chagrin of those who would like to cast me as a "one issue voter") the reason Bush will not get my vote again. This crap about him supporting the AWB just reaffirms my decision.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
It generaly boils down to the 'infringed' part of 'shall not be infringed'. The question becomes ones of rights vs. privelege or permission.
Why don't and why wouldn't you?
Because it's not necessary or practical. I carry one of my 4 Glocks or several other handguns when I need or want to carry concealed. One of several tactical shotguns for home defense. I have a pre-ban AR-15 re-configured into a CAR/M4 configuration that I use for our monthly 3-gun tactical matches. But CARRY them? I think not.
How about you?
I call this the Bush ex machina defense. The thesis here is that George Bush is so wise, so infinitely perspicacious, that what appears to be betrayal of gun rights is only part of a Keen Master Plan to befuddle his enemies.
This isn't faith; it's hero worship.
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