Bush makes sure gun lobby gets what it wants

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 5/20/2003 | Tom (Fear Monger extraordinaire) Teepen

[Joe Brower]

Bush makes sure gun lobby gets what it wants
By TOM TEEPEN
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5/20/2003

“Bush and the people around him are National Rifle Association finger puppets. The NRA twitches, they bow.”

When President Bush announced a couple of weeks ago that he wouldn't oppose renewal next year of the ban on semi-automatic assault weapons, you knew something fishy was up. And sure enough, here it is: Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) says that not only will the House refuse to renew the legislation. The leadership won't even let the matter come up. End of issue.

Thus Bush escapes any blame for re-arming the nation's nut cases with weapons that can mow down school kids and postal employees wholesale -- hey, he said he'd back an extension, didn't he? -- but the gun lobby gets what it wants anyway.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), hedging DeLay, says the decision about whether or not to call for a vote hasn't been made, leaving open that possibility if it looks as though a vote could be used against Democrats or to shake down the gun lobby for more money for Republicans.

But whether by vote or neglect, the legislation dies, as dead as if the president himself had fired the coup de grace because the White House says that while Bush wouldn't mind a renewal, he won't push for one, either.

We are told that the president, in an act of mincing deference to the legislature, would not wish to be understood as interfering with the prerogatives of Congress. Heavens no. And giraffes can sing.

Bush and the people around him are National Rifle Association finger puppets. The NRA twitches, they bow.

Attorney General John Ashcroft, throwing over generations of legal understanding, has declared that there is an all but abiding personal right to firearms ownership, not a right pegged to the maintenance of public security, as the Second Amendment plainly says. (So much for "original intent" when it becomes politically bothersome.)

The GOP Congress is busy enacting a special, indeed a unique, exemption from lawsuits for the firearms industry. Without having to worry about being held liable, gun makers will be able to continue slighting safety and stocking dealers who are notorious sources of firearms for criminals.

And we can expect little protection from federal agencies. A recent study by the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation reported that prosecutors mainly enforce gun laws against criminals after the fact, rather than enforcing statutes against the illegal trafficking that supplies the criminals in the first place.

The 1994 legislation, which cleared the House by only two votes even when NRA power was at a rare low point, banned just 19 military-style assault weapons -- AK-47s and so on.

Understand, these weapons aren't necessary for hunting. Nor are they essential for any other sport purpose. Some 670 types of hunting and other recreational rifles remain lawful. The assault weapons have only one use: to kill humans, and to kill them rapidly and in great number. They were the weapons of choice in the crack-cocaine wars of the '80s and early 1990s.

For a timely vision of a population armed with assault weapons, check out downtown Baghdad these days.

[Joe Brower]

I first saw this article yesterday via Gun News Daily, and when I read it, my first thought was "I wonder how soon this will appear in my local New York Times subsidiary, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune (that's 'SHT' for short)?". Well, there it was in today's op-eds. Fear-mongering scum Tom Teepen, smug and self-righteous, can always be counted on to take a deceitful swipe at both lawful gun-owners and the NRA, and the SHT can always be counted on to print every freedom-hating word he says.

The leftmedia is nothing if not predicable. This is the FOURTH anti-"assault weapon" piece the SHT has published in just THIS MONTH. As anticipated, the statist propaganda machine is incrementally stirring up the mass hysteria that they desire to create in order to continue the so-called "assault weapons ban" of 1994; you can expect the agitprop only to increase over the next year.

[Joe Brower]

[Skywalk]

God what a disgusting pig. Did it ever occur to idiots like this that the NRA membership is in the MILLIONS, and their precious anti-self defense groups' memberships rank in the hundreds or thousands?

And to say they are puppets? I thought we lived in a land where certain people represented some things and where citizens, as groups and individuals, had the right to petition their government.

Of course, ALL guns are made to kill people, "assault weapons" are no exception. But, as with many things, context is supreme in such discussion. As he provides none, except Baghdad, he shows his lack of objectivity.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The knee-jerk "conservatives" think Bush is chomping at the bit to sign the AWB renewal, while the gun-grabbers think he is playing a good cop/bad cop routine to kill it with Tom DeLay.

This won't matter one bit to the idiots who are more concerned with Bush making a "principled (ala John Birch Society) stand" than seeing the AWB sunsetted.

[Space Wrangler]

When Bush voiced support for the AWB, I kind of had the feeling that the fix was in. Now this won't be a campaign issue, or if it is, it will have democratic candidates throwing hissy fits over something Bush had no power over, and make them look just as foolish as they have been for the last six months. 15 more months until high cap clips are back at reasonable prices!!!

[unixfox]

The assault weapons have only one use: to kill humans, and to kill them rapidly and in great number.

I don't have a problem with that. When rogue gangs and terrorists are roving neighborhoods in broad daylight looking for "victims" I want all the fire power I can get.

[facedown]

Tom Teepen is an idiot.

Carter - America’s Best Former President By Tom Teepen, Columnist Cox Newspapers Atlanta, GA

[Wright is right!]

"Did it ever occur to idiots like this that the NRA membership is in the MILLIONS..."

No, the only thing that matters to the Tom Teepens of the world is that no one HE KNOWS is an NRA member. Liberals have small, closed circles of like-thinking people. An idea outside what is embraced by his group is simply wild and extreme.

Remember what some noted New York liberal said after Reagan carried 49 states. "I cannot BELIEVE Reagan won by a landslide. I don't know a SINGLE PERSON who voted for Reagan." If it's not within their group, to them - it doesn exist.

Michael

[Blood of Tyrants]

Attorney General John Ashcroft, throwing over generations of legal understanding, has declared that there is an all but abiding personal right to firearms ownership, not a right pegged to the maintenance of public security, as the Second Amendment plainly says. (So much for "original intent" when it becomes politically bothersome.)

This has to be the most blatant lie in the whole story. The left throws this out there as though the letters and explanations from the founding fathers support the opposite of what they plainly say.

They were the weapons of choice in the crack-cocaine wars of the '80s and early 1990s.

On Miami Vice, maybe.

[Shooter 2.5]

The NRA is correct. This issue is being played out in Congress.

The question whether or not the Bill is renewed or sunsetted was answered during the results of the November 2002 election.

Now all we have to do is keep reminding our Congressman who put them in office.

[Eagle Eye]

They were the weapons of choice in the crack-cocaine wars of the '80s and early 1990s.

Maybe HIS dealers preferred them...

[biblewonk]

Thus Bush escapes any blame for re-arming the nation's nut cases with weapons that can mow down school kids and postal employees wholesale -- hey, he said he'd back an extension, didn't he? -- but the gun lobby gets what it wants anyway.

Boy this guy sure layed his cards on the table with this line.

[from occupied ga]

Tom Pigpen is one of the many cogent reasons why, when the Urinal/Constipation sales people call me with a "great deal" on their paper I usually say, "I wouldn't have that piece of $hit in my house if you paid me to take it."

[zip]

. When rogue gangs and terrorists are roving neighborhoods in broad daylight looking for "victims" I want all the fire power I can get.

The gun grabbers say this wouldn't happen if we would just void the Second Amendment. See how easy it is? </sarcasm off>

BTW, the gangs already own neighborhoods (and entire cities in a few cases).

[zip]

Ping

[trebb]

Gee, even when the Prez does his job EXACTLY as he should, the Dims have to rant. The President is right in saying that he shouldn't interfere with the Congress on this matter. They are the ones that are supposed to represent their constituents. If they don't push the bill through (as much as far too many of them don't believe in the 2nd Amendment) it means that they know that their constituents don't want the controls on firearms and to push it would be to risk not being re-elected. The people need to be more and more active in letting the Congress know that, much as they hate it, their job is to push the will of their constituents, not their own will...

[Timm]

Hilarious.

The left is going to hammered on guns, and I don't think they see it coming. Look at this author. He's willing to repeat all of the tired old canards in this article. The so-called "assault weapons ban" bans "AK-47's". Drug dealers used "assault weapons" as their "weapons of choice" during the late eighties. He doesn't even think he has to try.

Well, it isn't 1993. They can't just repeat their lies and bumper sticker slogans, confident that this is all that's required to get public policy to go their way. They don't realize it yet, though. Another round of, "Surprise Democrats, you live in America"!

[ActionNewsBill]

Understand, these weapons aren't necessary for hunting. Nor are they essential for any other sport purpose.

Why do they always trot out this tired argument? The 2nd Amendment is NOT about hunting or sports shooting.

[facedown]

...if you paid me to take it."

I wouldn't go that far. Business is business. Besides you need something in which to take out the cat litter.

[Puppage]

with weapons that can mow down school kids

Hmm, LIKE AUTOMOBILES?