Assault Weapons Ban Picks Up GOP Support

Yahoo! News ^ | Tue, Feb 24, 2004 | AP

[yonif]

WASHINGTON - Three Republican senators agreed Tuesday to support renewal of the soon-to-expire assault weapons ban, a small victory for gun control proponents as the Senate prepares to wade into several contentious gun issues this election year.

The GOP-controlled Senate plans to take up legislation Wednesday that would immunize gun manufacturers and distributors from lawsuits that arise from crimes in which guns were used.

Senate Republicans have enough votes to approve the legislation. Democrats plan to force votes on at least two other gun issues they want to attach to it, however, amendments to renew the assault weapons ban and to require background checks for all purchasers at gun shows.

Gun rights groups plan to urge majority Republicans to defeat both measures. The GOP-controlled House already has said it does not plan to approve the extension of the assault weapons ban.

"To protect the future of America's millions of gun owners, it is vital that the Senate pass (the lawsuits immunization bill) without any antigun amendments," the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action said on its Web site.

The White House also urged the Senate to pass the legislation without amendments.

"The administration urges the Senate to pass a clean bill, in order to ensure enactment of the legislation this year," the White House said in a statement. "Any amendment that would delay enactment of the bill beyond this year is unacceptable."

Getting the 1994 assault weapons prohibition renewed has been a Democratic priority this year. They picked up support Tuesday from GOP Sens. John Warner of Virginia, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island.

"Although I voted against the ban a decade ago, over the past 10 years it has reduced crime dramatically and has made our streets safer," Warner said. "The legislation also has protected the rights of gun owners better than many of us predicted."

The three GOP senators' support does not guarantee the amendment's approval in the Senate, but "this gives the effort to renew the assault weapons ban new momentum," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a sponsor of the original assault weapons ban.

Republicans, along with several Senate Democrats, have been pushing for the gun immunity legislation for some time. Gun advocates say firearm makers shouldn't be forced to spend millions of dollars fighting off lawsuits designed to win large rewards and bankrupt them for making legal products.

"The manufacturer or seller of a legal, nondefective product should not be held liable for the criminal or unlawful misuse of that product by others," the White House said.

Democrats like Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota agreed to get behind the legislation after gun supporters accepted a specification that firearms manufacturers and distributors would not be protected from lawsuits that involved defective products or illegal sales.

___

The bill number is S. 1805.

On the Net:

Bill text: http://thomas.loc.gov

[JohnnyZ]

Fitzgerald is retiring this year, and maybe McCain might join him. AFAIK, McCain hasn't announced his intention. If he runs, I expect a primary challenge.

McCain's running again. He waffled a little but then went for it. No serious primary challenge either; Rep. Jeff Flake looked at it but decided McCain would "whip him".

[neverdem]

They are if this pathetic old clown is re-elected!

Warner won election in 2002. Warner had no rat opposition, IIRC, but this term may be his swan song.

[raloxk]

I believe that about 70% of guns owners voted for Bush in 2000.

[SevenDaysInMay]

All who act to subvert our ratified Constitution are enemies of this Constitutional Republic, sworn enemies of tens of millions of armed and trained citizens because they betray their own oaths of office. The federales' profiled "militia movement" is trivial in defense of our Ratified Constitution, THE LAW of our land, not guidelines.

We who have taken sworn oaths before God to defend our (RATIFIED) Constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic outnumber those who would be 5th columnists acting under color of law.

Only this islamist Terror War has allowed the FBI-HRT's JBTs minimal goodwill as 9/11 losses exceeded the murders of the Branch Davidians from the BATF full auto assault to 4/19/93. Bill & Hillary only meant to display their new police powers to put us in our place. Any "Christians" will do in matters of State.

Those in high office and their lessers who act to subvert our one and only ratified Constitution derive any and all of their temporary lawful authority from the same ratified Constitution which they attack under color of law.

Our Bill of Rights means what it says; no law and no court can over rule the rights affirming God-given rights.

Our nation is further descending into the fascism designed by the Clintonazis. Their Law of Rule is at war with our Rule of Law.

Fascists in and out of office are taking advantage of our life or death preoccupation with islamists' threats.

The next Congressional or SCOTUS 2nd Amendment RTKABA infringement shall be passed across Concord Bridge. Our government employees including those believing that they are above The Law of OUR Land, need to decide now whether they shall defend our RATIFIED Constitution or simply "follow orders" from Lexington to Nuremberg.

We free American citizens shall prevail against islamism and American fascism.

[ezo4]

its more around 100m these days I think.

[ezo4]

"We free American citizens shall prevail against islamism and American fascism. "

:o) nuff said...got your back...and I dont even know were you live...just a voice in the wind

[Ancesthntr]

I'm among the 50% that are waiting to see what happens with the AWB. I am mightily ticked off at the signing of the anti-free speech CFR, the immigration proposal and the big spending - and GWB's signature on an AWB renewal and/or expansion will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I'll stay home and reload rather than vote for him in that circumstance.

Keep in mind that I don't want to do this: he's done a great job in the War on Terror (though I'm not at all thrilled with the Patriot Act's dramatic reduction of our liberties), and I certainly don't want Kerry naming federal judges, submitting very underfunded defense budgets, gutting the intelligence agencies and pushing for higher taxes. BUT. I. WILL. NOT. STAND. BY. WHILE. MY. MOST. BASIC. RIGHTS. ARE. GUTTED. BY. A. PRESIDENT. WHO. SWORE. AN. OATH. TO. "PRESERVE AND PROTECT." SAID. RIGHTS.

Is my message clear, Mr. Rove? Understand that betraying gun owners will result in your boss having to spend a tremendous amount of time and money in the upcoming campaign in supposedly safe Republican states, just to be sure of taking them, time and money that will not be available for trying to win states that are now projected to be close. Mess with gun owners - who put you and your boss in your present jobs - and your job will become VERY much more difficult, and may possibly be "outsourced" as of 1/20/05.

[absalom01]

You've got to hand it to Josh Sugarman in terms of his ability to define the terms of the debate. It's not only the media's natural bias -- he was, let's face it, brilliant in coining a term, and then letting the good guys thrash around and spread the damage. There are good folks in the RKBA movement who still haven't forgiven Bill Ruger, fer instance.

We could use some guys with his skills, but with integrity (which his public record would indicate that he utterly lacks), on our side.

[agitator]

This looks like as good a place for this as any:

And by the way, if it was YOUR gun, you could change the numbers on it right?

[TigersEye]

He turned to ask the guy in charge for help and I found myself staring down the barrel of a loaded gun of a crazy Palestinian.

That's no fun at all.

I haven't been to a range since.

Picking a shooting partner is serious business. Find one with more common sense and try it again.
Shooting can be a lot of fun which is just gravy compared to its utilitarian benefits.

[philetus]

"If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an out right ban,
picking up every one of them... "Mr. and Mrs. America, turn 'em all in,
"I would have done it. I could not do that. The votes weren't here."
--U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), CBS-TV's "60 Minutes," 2/5/95

[philetus]

Gun Grabbers on Self-Defense
Shogun-Era Japan

The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, bows, spears, firearms or other types of arms. The possession of these elements makes difficult the collection of taxes and dues, and tends to permit uprising.

-- Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Shogun of Japan, August 29, 1558.
The Shot Heard Around the World

Disperse you rebels! Damn you, throw down your arms and disperse.

-- British Major John Pitcairn, Lexington, Massachusetts, April 19, 1775.

Nazis on Guns
Germans who wish to use firearms should join the S.S. or the S.A.--ordinary citizens don't need guns, as their having guns doesn't serve the state.

-- Heinrich Himmler

Joseph Biden on Gun Control

Banning guns is an idea whose time has come.

- U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, then-chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in an interview with AP on November 18, 1993.

Jocelyn Elders on Handguns

Handguns are a public health issue.

- then-U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders in USA Today, Nov. 9, 1993

Feinstein on Gun Control

Banning guns addresses a fundamental right of all Americans to feel safe.

- Sen. Dianne Feinstein quoted by AP on Nov. 18, 1993

Schumer on Gun Control

We're here to tell the NRA their nightmare is true! ... We're going to hammer guns on the anvil of relentless legislative strategy. We're going to beat guns into submission!

- Rep. Charles Schumer on NBC Nightly News Nov. 30, 1993.

Hillary Clinton on Guns

I'm personally all for taxing guns to pay for health care coverage.

- Hillary Clinton quoted by the Nov. 4, 1993 New York Times
Michael Gardner on Handguns

There is no reason for anyone in this country -- anyone except a police officer or a military person -- to buy, to own, to have, to use a handgun ... The only way to control handgun use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to change the Constitution.

- Michael Gardner, president of NBC News, in USA Today, January 16, 1992.

Clinton on Guns

We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans to legitimately own handguns and rifles ... that we are unable to think about reality.

- Bill Clinton, President of the United States, March 11, 1993

[neverdem]

McCain's running again. He waffled a little but then went for it. No serious primary challenge either; Rep. Jeff Flake looked at it but decided McCain would "whip him".

Thanks for ruining my dream. I guess there aren't enough conservatives and libertarians who can work together in Arizona anymore.

[backhoe]

My judgment is always reserved and in this case it is really simple; if the AWB passes in any form before Nov. 5th I'll vote against every single pol on my ballot that supported it.

That is my line in the sand, too.

[ActionNewsBill]

-.-- --- ..- / --. --- - / - .... .- - / .-. .. --. .... - --..-- / -... .-. --- .-.-.-

[.30Carbine]

By calling it an Assault Weapons Ban, they set the terms of the debate

I reframed it: It's known in my household as The Assault on My Weapons

[.30Carbine]

Cool.

[OXENinFLA]

And I use to like Warner.

Him saying that changes my mind.

[longtermmemmory]

http://www.senate.gov

let the sentors know how you stand on this issue.

Call them and or email

[Ichneumon]

This doesn't have a chance in the House

I hope that you're right, but never underestimate the ability of elected officials to lose their spines in an election year.