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.

[wcbtinman]

I won't vote for Bush whether the ban stays or not.

Anyone who plays politics with the Bill of Rights is not worthy of the office. Bush knows the AWB law is un-Constitutional, just as he knew the CFR Act was before he signed that.

Maybe some of you folks think that such games are "just politics", but the foolishness of this kind of "game" has gotten us into the current mess. Politicians need to understand that there is a line out there for most everyone, and wherever that is, it has got to be close for many. If these morons in Washington continue to play fast and loose with our rights, someone is gonna' get killed over it.

[Sir Gawain]

Ah, to be able to watch daytime TV. Does she come on before or after your soap operas?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

LOL. I have never seen this many desperate men gathered in one place in my life. Losers Anonymous, I guess.

I have to get some sleep. Unlike them, I do have a husband and a job that I need to wake up for.

I suppose they will all be here until "last call".

[Sir Gawain]

I have never seen this many desperate men gathered in one place in my life.

I do have a husband

Looks like you managed to find one desperate one.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Looks like you managed to find one desperate one."

-------------------------------------------------

Posted by Sir Gawain to A Citizen Reporter

On News/Activism 05/14/2003 11:11 PM CDT #378 of 725

"Third grade cutdowns on a site that's supposed to contain intelligent debate is pretty pathetic."

Ouch, don't you hate to be hoisted on your on petard?

[Dan from Michigan]

Here's the Thread in Question

[Sir Gawain]

Turnabout is fair play. Can dish it out but not take it, I see.

[ApesForEvolution]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/892016/posts?page=346#346

Yes, and it appears the key piece of damning evidence has been 'removed by mod'. What a break Howlin. However, in the post above, you REITERATED your desire to ban "A/Ws" and determine whom can possess what firearms.

[Sir Gawain]

Now I fear I'll have a citizen reporter following me everywhere.

[TLBSHOW]

Now I can go to sleep. Thanks!

[ApesForEvolution]

Is that a joke?

[ApesForEvolution]

And I was accused of having no sense of humor...

[TLBSHOW]

of course it was...lucky howl!

[Sir Gawain]

Like liberals, you wish they wouldn't attempt to be funny. They end up sounding like Al Franken.

[ApesForEvolution]

I found the whole sordid affair and posted up above. Thanks for the concern though...

[ApesForEvolution]

That poor man.

[TLBSHOW]

I read it all thanks!

[Sir Gawain]

This?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/892016/posts?page=241#241

To: Willie Green

Please. It doesn't say that some jerkwad living next door to me can own lethal weapons.

I have plenty of friends who are IN the NRA and have a lot of guns; none of them want or need an assault weapon. And we never had your vote anyway.

241 posted on 04/13/2003 1:24 AM CDT by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- or an Iraqi!)
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