White House Pokes Gun Owners in the Eye -- admits receiving "tremendous amount of e-mail"

email | May 9, 2003 | GOA

[lainie]

Friday, May 9, 2003

Well, you've probably seen the news by now.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced legislation yesterday to reauthorize the ban on scores of semi-automatic firearms.

As a result, reporters asked White House spokesman Ari Fleischer for the President's position. Fleischer said, "Often, the president will agree... with the National Rifle Association. On this issue, he does not."

The bottom line? The President supports the ban on many semi-automatic firearms and on magazines holding 10 rounds or more.

The White House seems to think that the bill will never reach the President's desk. At least that is what top officials are counting on. In pursuing this strategy, they are trying to please both sides and are playing a very dangerous game, to be sure.

No one should assume for a second that there are a majority of pro-gun legislators in the Congress that will join to kill this bill. It may be that Democrats in Congress will call the President's bluff and attach the Feinstein reauthorization bill as an amendment to some "must pass" bill.

With all the "horse trading" that goes on behind closed doors, don't be surprised if some fence-sitters in the Senate trade their votes in favor of the ban to gain the support of certain Democrats for tax cuts.

Meanwhile, the White House has been inundated with e-mail in opposition to the ban. Senior White House official Carl Rove told a director of Gun Owners of New Hampshire that they have received a "tremendous amount of e-mail" on this issue.

That's a testimony to all of you. Good work, guys!

But there is still much more that needs to be done. The White House is trying to straddle the fence on this issue. It's up to us to yank the President over to our side.

We have included a new pre-written letter for you to e-mail which answers the main objection that the White House is putting forth. But if you have the time, we encourage you to call the White House to deliver your message. Better yet, do both!

It is important that they feel the growing displeasure that is brewing in the grassroots. Making phone calls -- as opposed to just e-mailing -- is one way to do that.

As one legislative official said, "If you do phones, you can ruin the staff's day and they will get nothing done -- because they are spending all their time on the phone. That definitely gets their attention."

Let's get their attention.

ACTION: Please use the pre-written text below to guide your response to the White House. It is preferred that you call. But if you can only e-mail, please be sure to do that.

You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send a pre-written e-mail message to President Bush. To call or snail mail the President regarding the semi-auto ban, you can use the following contact info:

President George Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Fax: 202-456-2461 or 202-456-1907
Phone: 202-456-1414

------ Pre-written message ------

Dear President Bush:

I am sorely disappointed to hear that you support reauthorizing the Clinton-Feinstein ban on commonly owned semi-autos and on certain magazines.

Your spokesmen have said that you are being "consistent" because you have always supported the enforcement of existing gun laws.

First, the Second Amendment says the right to keep and bear arms "shall not be infringed." That does not allow for you to play political games with the Bill of Rights!

Second, your support for "existing gun laws" means that you should support the EXISTING SUNSET in the semi-auto ban which forces the semi-auto gun ban to expire in September, 2004.

You are in the White House because gun owners in West Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas believed they could count on you. We would urge you to keep faith with them and with us.

Sincerely,

****************************

[walden]

Citizens with guns ARE Homeland Defense. Do you have any idea how many states have concealed carry now, and how low their crime rates are? Do you know how many competent sport shooters there are? Do you know how many former military people there are? Just because you don't know anyone who knows how to properly use guns of ALL sorts doesn't mean there aren't millions of them.

[zx2dragon]

I've had a ten on one situation before and that was in a small town with little crime. It was the middle of the afternoon and I was walking down the street, minding my own business.

There are nuts out there, we should be allowed to protect ourselves.

[Afronaut]

You are a dropped lollipop on the ant hill. Mose people see it and move on others... Just have to start in. I guess some people are still learning.

[KingofQue]

You are wrong. Firearm ownership is essential to a free republic. We should all own machine guns.

[philetus]

Go out to the tree and get me a switch!

[lawdog]

Here's something for you to ponder:

" Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." -- Daniel Webster (1782-1852), American politician, US representative, senator

[Nebr FAL owner]

Who are you to decide for me what I need or don't need? As for your statement that there is no reason for anyone to own a semiautomatic firearm ,I repeat the first question :Who are to decide for me what I want or need ? Who elected you to the office of God & just when the heck was the election ?

[PatrioticAmerican]

It think Bush has the message. Let's see if he can understand it.

[BenR2]

There is no reason for anyone to own a semi auto weapon.. not for sport.. not for fun.. and certainly don't need one in self defense(unless that is you have a feeling that a russian 10 man kgb team is coming to your house to kill you in the next couple of days). Good for Bush.. to hell with idiocy that the NRA can stoop itself to.

//////////////
Hello? Please attempt to square the Stalinist "logic" of your post with the Constitution (especially Amendment Two thereto)?

[BOBWADE]

I should point out that my ruger 10/22 squirel rifle is a semi automatic and serves it purpose well. When should the Gov't have the right to tell you, a law abiding citizen, what kind of gun can own? They like criminals don't have to abide by these rediculus regulations. Should you chose not to own one, then don't but keep your freaking hands out of my business! I like them, I will buy them if I want to. I don't think the Gov't has any business infringing on the rights of law abiding citizens. The gun laws we have now should be actively enforced instead of continued expansion.

[JerseyHighlander]

As can be seen by this post, the Dem's will be able to triangulate on this position. In regards to the coming effects on FR, will the official Moderators be told to back off the hundreds of people who will loudly proclaim they won't vote for Bush if he signs the bill into law?

With the Patriot Act and the AWB bill both enacted, the lessons of Waco and Ruby Ridge, so painfully learned by the American public, will have been forgotten for generations. Are these considered validated big-tent Conservative arguments, or will they be relegated to "kook" status on FR?

You know how many long time Freepers have this as a stated "line in the sand", so please keep posters up to date on acceptable rantings about this AWB bill.

[Jim Robinson]

Don't fall for the leftist propaganda schemes. We will be supporting a second term for Bush and opposing all Democrats. Period.

[Jim Robinson]

Why in the world would you want to give more power to Feinstein and her socialist party?

[JerseyHighlander]

Personally, I am supporting Republicans almost full ticket. That being said, it's going to get rowdy on FR in the coming weeks as the 15% of Republicans who don't support a second term for Bush, and are overrepresented on FR slightly as compared to the general population go at it with the party base.

I've heard Democrats in NJ trying to prepare to hold the AWB as a bargaining chip, and now the GOA is using some light scare tactics to drum up the base to keep the Republicans' feet to the fire. How many Federal Agencies are ever downsized? Hopefully the ATF will be, and the monies used to fund the ban enforcement will return to the general funds, or given to the Democrats social programs as a quid pro quo.

[DMZFrank]

The reason for them is militia use, just like the 2nd amendment says.

[lainde]

I don't even own a gun and this steams me...Especially post 9/11...And living within the jurisdiction of the deranged 9th circuit court!

[Uncle Hal]

Folks, I guarentee you this bill will never get out of committee in the House. So it will never reach Bush's desk. So Bush will not have to make the decision of whether to sign it or veto the bill.

[Almondjoy]

If it aint a pistol rifle or shotgun then you don't need it(and yes of course i realize that certain pistols can be considered semi or full auto.

[Almondjoy]

Does a redneck know what his sister looks like naked?

[Almondjoy]

Sigh.. why do I always have to point this out. The framers of the constitution left the wording vague on purpose. It was to allow for technology to be reasonably reined in. If you want to read it to it's exact wording well that's fine. I'll buy me an M1A1 and park in on my front lawn for protection.