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President Bush and the GOP Poised to Sell-out Gun Owners
Armed Females of America ^ | 19 May 2003 | Nicki Fellenzer

Posted on 05/20/2003 11:38:12 AM PDT by 45Auto

Well, here we go again. Power-hungry cowards in Congress are once again seeking to ram gun control down our throats, and this time, our president – the man who was painted as a friend to the some 80 million-gun owners in this country by the National Republican Apologists (NRA) – says he will sign it if it reaches his desk.

But my goal today is not to take aim at the NRA for its obsequious and quite obvious silence on the G.W. Bush promise to sign the odious legislation to expand and make permanent the Clinton “Assault” weapons ban of 1994 into law – although God and Goddess know the NRA’s hypocrisy and ass kissing of the seat of power are glaring, to say the least. No, today I’m taking on the President himself…

· For playing political games with our freedoms;

· For maneuvering and dodging instead of taking a courageous stand;

· And for trying to appease the anti-freedom maggots in congress and at Handgun Control, Inc. (And no, I won’t call it the “Brady Center.” They are what they are, regardless of the name change.)

Consider this: George W. Bush is a man who ran on the premise that he was a friend of the Second Amendment. In the 2000 elections, the NRA drooled at the prospect of having Bush in office. An excerpt from a story on Boston.com tells the story quite well: “On the NRA tape, [Kayne] Robinson calls Gore an ‘antigun fanatic’ and said electing him would be a ‘horror story.’ But with Bush, the likely Republican nominee, they will have ‘unbelievably friendly relations.’”

In October, 2000, then-NRA President Charlton Heston stomped around the country urging gun owners to vote for George W. Bush, describing the presidential campaign as "a holy war" for the constitutional rights of gun owners.

And now, the President to whom a large number of gun owners gave their vote – a sacred trust to protect their rights and the US Constitution – is underhandedly voicing his tacit support for the permanent ban of certain types of firearms. No, he’s not proud of his support. He’s keeping a low profile, letting his lackeys do the talking, while keeping conspicuously silent himself. If the ban never sees his desk, his spin-doctors can twist the sad facts into a positive development for the Bush Presidency: An odious Clintonesque gun control bill was killed during our brave leader’s reign!

If Congress passes H.R. 2038, and Bush signs it into law, you can expect a very large number of gun owners and patriots to turn away from Bush and from the Republican party. There’s no excuse for this heinous, unconstitutional legislation to see the light of day – not when we have a Republican majority in Congress and a Republican White House. Republicans are supposed to be gun owners’ friends, right?

Apparently, they aren’t. Apparently Republicans are just as willing to play politics with our rights as the Democrats. According to Newsday.com, “[House] Speaker Dennis Hastert opened the door Thursday to a vote on extending an assault weapons ban that expires next year, and the leader of House Democrats prodded President Bush to urge the Republican leadership to bring the bill to the floor.” It sure doesn’t sound like the Republicans are any better friends to gun owners than the Democrats. They’ll violate your rights just to appear “moderate” just as quickly as the Democrats, hoping their tepid reluctance will earn them brownie points.

Well, time has come to say it: Mr. President, you and your Republican cohorts are cowards and hypocrites, and gun owners know it!

Yes, I’m saying it loud and clear, so that you and your lackeys can read and revel in this fact. You have no courage. You have no integrity. You bend to the political convenience of the moment, because it’s the quickest road to re-election, and you think that little red, white and blue elephant on your lapel, your patriotic pictures on the USS Abraham Lincoln and your war on terrorism will erase or obscure this fact and that your membership in the Republican party will shield you from the wrath of those you have betrayed.

You feel complacent because you feel gun owners will support you regardless, because you happen to be the lesser of the two evils. You feel secure, shrouded in the Republican banner, because gun owners have consistently and loyally voted Republican. Well, I suggest you stop feeling secure, sir. Because gun owners don’t appreciate cowards and hypocrites. We don’t appreciate compromising twits, who will do anything to appear “moderate” while trading away our rights for a few votes. We appreciate truth, integrity and courage.

If you had any gonads at all, you would stand up and say, “I want to ban all the so-called ‘assault’ weapons and I will support any legislation which accomplishes this goal,” and then allow law-abiding and freedom-loving citizens of this country to turn away from you, as you know they will.

But no, you won’t do that, Mr. Bush, because politics are apparently much more important to you than principles. You want reelection so bad, you can taste it, and it appears you’ll do anything – even sell law-abiding gun owners to the socialist wolves – to get it.

The legislation you are too afraid to state your support for is a pernicious piece of garbage that will do nothing more than place further limits on our freedoms.

H.R. 2038 – the “Assault” weapons ban will do nothing to stop crime. Prior to the Clinton ban, a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey reported that in 1991, about 8 percent of state inmates had possessed a so-called “assault” weapon. Care to guess how many carried said weapon in the commission of a crime? LESS THAN ONE PERCENT.

A Virginia inmate survey conducted prior to the 1994 ban showed that while about 10 percent of incarcerated criminals ever owned an “assault” weapon, none had carried it at the scene of a crime.

Meanwhile, in 1997 – four years after the Clinton ban was passed – 1.5 percent of state inmates and 1.7 percent of federal inmates admitted to having used a weapon made illegal by the Clinton ban.

Both numbers are insignificant, but some are more insignificant than others. More criminals used the banned “assault” weapons during the commission of their crimes after the ban than before. Even now, the number of criminals who use “assault” weapons is pathetically small.

So what is the purpose of this ban?

Is it to reduce crime? Apparently not, since said weapons are rarely used to commit offenses.

It bans, among other things, pistol grips, folding telescopic stocks, threaded barrels, forward grips and barrel shrouds – none of which make a gun any more or less “dangerous” and none of which pose any threat to law enforcement. And yet, the legislation carries the deceptive name, Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003, even though it has no hope of “protecting” the already protected elite – the police, who are, of course, exempt from the bill’s provisions.

What you are tacitly supporting, Mr. Bush is nothing less than an attempt to ram yet more gun control down the throats of the American public. It’s not about crime, it’s not about protection, it’s about control, and if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem –

- a problem we, gun owners, plan to battle and win.

If you are not to be a part of it, so be it. But at least have the courage to stand up and admit it, instead of hiding from the truth.

Admit that you would support an ineffective and unconstitutional ban on firearms for a political purpose.

Admit that you are too cowardly to stand up to Schumer, McCarthy, Feinstein and their weak-minded socialist brethren, because you’re afraid you’ll lose votes.

Don’t sit in the White House and have your lackeys proclaim what a great, courageous independent minded leader you are, because you’re willing to part with the NRA on this issue. What you’re doing is not courageous; it’s stupid, ineffectual and manipulative.

Our rights are not yours to maneuver for your political gain.

Our Constitution is not up for debate.

Our freedoms are not your bargaining chips, Mr. President.

Stand up, be a man and admit your support for this unconstitutional monster that aims to take firearms out of the hands of the law-abiding. Or if you don’t support this bill, have the courage to say so and face the mealy-mouthed, hand wringing wrath of Brady, Nosanchuk, Diaz and their socialist ilk.

You won’t get a pass on this, Mr. President. Your political games with our freedoms paint you as a coward, a manipulator and a traitor. It’s time for you to do the right thing. State your position, and face the consequences like a man.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: aw; awb; ban; bang; banglist; rkba; sunset
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To: berserker
"...Rove is betting that you will. If GW does sign this, its because the political calculation is that it will help get moderate votes, and 2nd Amendment single-issue people will still have to vote for him anyway because the alternative would not be attractive."

If your guess is true, then Rove needs to rig the game and pressure enough Congressmen to ensure that this won't see the light of day.

Otherwise, all dice shooters have to crap out sometime. Gun owners gave his man both houses of Congress and the critical states out of Al Gore's list.

We won't be there for them in 2004 if they make the wrong bet.

61 posted on 05/20/2003 4:07:03 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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To: newgeezer
But, if it makes it all the way to the President's desk and he vetoes it, how much chance is there that it would be the defining issue that leads to Democrap control of Congress and the White House?

Not much chance realistically, considering this is the same issue that helped the Republicans gain control of Congress in the 90s and helped defeat Gore in 2000.

62 posted on 05/20/2003 4:07:04 PM PDT by Sir Gawain (Who is Mr. America?)
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To: Centurion2000
No gun owner is going to countenance being betrayed by the Bush family twice.

Brother, you need to say this much LOUDER!

More often too!


Eaker

63 posted on 05/20/2003 4:52:21 PM PDT by Eaker (64,999,987 firearm owners killed no one yesterday. Somehow, it didn't make the news.)
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To: Centurion2000
Damn right. It won't happen again with me.
64 posted on 05/20/2003 4:57:16 PM PDT by dinodino
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To: FreedomCalls
90% of the American people believe that the "Assault Weapons Ban" bans fully automatic weapons and leaves all semi-automatics untouched.

Then the Republic is doomed, because these morons don't deserve to be free.

65 posted on 05/20/2003 4:57:33 PM PDT by 45Auto (Big holes are (almost) always better.)
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To: Sir Gawain
And the same issue that limited GHWBush to one term.

GW has learned from his dad's mistakes once, Iraq is a different place after the latest war than it was after Desert Storm. Let's see if he can learn from his dad's other mistakes, namely signing anti-2nd amendment legislation.

66 posted on 05/20/2003 4:57:54 PM PDT by Knitebane
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To: 45Auto; TexasCowboy; humblegunner; Flyer; dix; antivenom; bobbyd; eastforker; iamright; ...
I have been called a "one issue voter", "gun nut", "right-wing gun nut", !@#%$R#% nut, and I don't care!!!

If Bush is Pro-Second Amendment Rights why doesn't he quit playing games and SUPPORT us?

WE ARE THE PEOPLE

Pity sake, support us or lose us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so sick of this issue being an issue. It should just be clear!!! They ain't a'gonna take my guns!!!


Eaker

67 posted on 05/20/2003 6:26:36 PM PDT by Eaker (64,999,987 firearm owners killed no one yesterday. Somehow, it didn't make the news.)
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To: Eaker
They ain't a'gonna take my guns!!!

I'd be willing to bet hard money on that.

68 posted on 05/20/2003 6:38:00 PM PDT by humblegunner (Molon Labe!!!)
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To: humblegunner
We will win the fight.

You know that I am covering your 6.


Eaker

69 posted on 05/20/2003 6:43:23 PM PDT by Eaker (64,999,987 firearm owners killed no one yesterday. Somehow, it didn't make the news.)
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To: Eaker
You know that I am covering your 6.

I know it. I count on it. We will win the fight.

70 posted on 05/20/2003 6:54:44 PM PDT by humblegunner (Molon Labe!!!)
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To: Mister Baredog; Fred Mertz
Fred Mertz -- you’re afraid you’ll lose votes. I think she (the author) gets it.

Mister Baredog -- The last time I checked you don't get to lead anything without votes, I don't think she (the author) GETS IT at all!

I think Mister Baredog gets it.

71 posted on 05/20/2003 7:07:29 PM PDT by FreeReign (V5.0 Enterprise Edition)
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To: newgeezer
We would never be in year three of Algore's presidency.
He never would have ascended the throne.

Never.
72 posted on 05/20/2003 7:11:42 PM PDT by the gillman@blacklagoon.com
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To: Sir Gawain
What's sad is the fact that we're now playing politics with the Constitution. That's a statement on the country as a whole.

Yes, I blame the electorate -- not such much the politicians. If the electorate doesn't give a freep about Amendment II, then why should the pols?

73 posted on 05/20/2003 7:13:17 PM PDT by FreeReign (V5.0 Enterprise Edition)
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To: Dane
Another hundred votes just left the republican party because of your comments.

Shill.
74 posted on 05/20/2003 7:14:03 PM PDT by the gillman@blacklagoon.com
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To: taxed2death
Yes he is a RINO.

All the Bushbots are now coming out of the Matrix to defend his hypocrisy.

Spending under Bush is way way up, regulations are way up...I can remember how many Freepers blasted Clinton for all of his last minute executive orders, all of which, I believe, Bush has adopted as his own.


Link on Drudge. We are going to disarm Iraqi civilians...can't trust those pesky unarmed civilians with guns to protect themselves against the 2 million plus Baathist party faithful still entrenched in Iraq looking for payback now, can we? Just like we have to have reasonable regulations on that pesky Second Amendment and ban those ugly black guns that make loud noises. GWB thinks that's just fine.

Anyway, Nicki, you go, girl. I hadn't heard of your group, but at least there are still a few good women out there.
75 posted on 05/20/2003 7:18:13 PM PDT by Jesse
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To: RJayneJ
Why fret about an overt attack upon the Constitution? Because there once was a republic, the United States of America, that was based upon a Constitution.
76 posted on 05/20/2003 7:19:34 PM PDT by the gillman@blacklagoon.com
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To: Dane
and you seem to lack the sense of even a five year old on this subject.
77 posted on 05/20/2003 7:21:36 PM PDT by MatthewViti
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To: Mister Baredog
If he signs the bill he is a domestic enemy of the Constitution, just like Bill and Hill.
78 posted on 05/20/2003 7:23:00 PM PDT by the gillman@blacklagoon.com
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To: 45Auto

Both vaild complaints..

79 posted on 05/20/2003 7:24:04 PM PDT by Jhoffa_
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To: berserker
If he signs it he's the enemy, just like Gore.
80 posted on 05/20/2003 7:25:11 PM PDT by the gillman@blacklagoon.com
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