Democrats....Bush Key on Assault Weapons

Associated Press - Las Vegas Sun.com ^ | May 14, 2003 | Jim Abrams

[Godebert]

By JIM ABRAMS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -

President Bush should take the lead in overcoming resistance within his own party to extending an assault weapons ban due to expire next year, Democrats said Wednesday.

"If the bill dies we will lay it at the president's doorstep," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said a day after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters that the 1994 law banning the manufacture of 19 types of common military-style assault weapons would not be renewed.

Schumer said the gun bill would be an issue in the 2004 election, a development that could pose problems for Democrats who represent districts with strong gun rights sentiment. The assault ban vote was also a campaign topic in 1994, the year Republicans recaptured the House after spending 40 years in the minority.

Bush, taking a position at odds with the National Rifle Association, has voiced support for extending the ban, and White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on Wednesday said that support would carry weight in Congress.

"This is a matter that the House has to work out, of course, by listening to the will of its members, but the president's position is clear on it," Fleischer said. "When the president states his position like that, it helps get the message to the Congress."

Fleischer would not say whether Bush would pressure DeLay to bring such a bill up for a vote. DeLay, R-Texas, on Tuesday indicated that there would be no effort to renew the current law before it expires on Sept. 13, 2004. "The votes in the House are not there to reauthorize it," he said.

"The real question is will the president weigh in and ask the leaders to schedule a vote," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who as a senior adviser to President Clinton played a key role in guiding the 1994 legislation through Congress.

[ApesForEvolution]

Leaving so soon? Dane, you wouldn't say Bush is full of crap about anything - even if you were chewing on a mouth full of his crap at the time.

[justshe]

Best to pray about YOUR actions on this thread.

[Howlin]

She's said it in no uncertain terms in this forum within the last several weeks

Actually, I said on that very thread -- to people who are on THIS thread -- that I was against the ban; in fact, I mistyped what I meant and somebody pointedly asked me didn't I mean I was AGAINST the ban, not for it.

But carry on.

[TLBSHOW]

I pray for you everyday that you will see the light.

[Fred Mertz]

You now have a chance to see how you were manipulated.

You're welcome.

[TLBSHOW]

you have the link

[TLBSHOW]

did you get a groundhog day?

[ApesForEvolution]

Is THIS a resurrected thread?

[Howlin]

I have no idea.

[ApesForEvolution]

Was that the thread were you talked about 'assault weapons' owners being jerkwaters (or something of the sort)? I'll have to do some research...

[Fred Mertz]

I'm flying in late Wednesday.

[ApesForEvolution]

I got a 'groundhog day' 'thread pulled' and then replies to a dead-thread...

[Howlin]

The same one you're talking about; it's the only one I have been on, I believe.

And I did use that phrase, referring to MY neighbors. But I did say I was FOR the ban, but I mistyped what I said and somebody asked me about it and I corrected what I said.

[Howlin]

I got the same thing.

And it looks like it's not even in the SBR.

[justshe]

Somebody ON the thread is a MOD and got it reinstated.....be careful.

[Howlin]

Um, I may have said "jerkwads." "Jerkwaters" doesn't sound familiar to me.

Something like "some jerkwad living next door to me."

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

NB corrected the TO: on a subsequent post. I don't think it was aimed at you.

Missed that. I didn't get a ping to the retraction.

[ApesForEvolution]

I need a keyword in the title. That was 10,000 posts ago...was it an "Assault Weapons..." title?

[Fred Mertz]

But I did say I was FOR the ban, but I mistyped what I said and somebody asked me about it and I corrected what I said.

Sure, whatever you say.