Posted on 02/24/2004 5:55:47 PM PST by 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.
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The bill number is S. 1805.
On the Net:
Bill text: http://thomas.loc.gov
The way I see this playing out is a strong AWB bill getting attached to a weakened lawsuit immunity bill.
The worthless RINOs will attempt to pass it off as a "good compromise", while the democrats will support the bill 1) knowing it will hurt Bush's re-election chances if he signs it, and 2) knowing that the weakened lawsuit immunity bill is full of loopholes.
The final bill will pass the Senate. The real fight will be in the House. I wouldn't be surprised to see another "magic one vote" victory for the bastards.
It looks like the best realistic scenario will be neither the AWB nor the lawsuit immunity bill becoming law this year.
I could be totally wrong, but we'll see.
Depends on what it's attached to as an amendment. Funding authorization for DoD, or Homeland Security? The next dose of "Patriot Act" legislation. If it comes over from the Senate just before the Labor (or even Memorial) Day recess, they are likely to vote for it just so they can get back to their districts to campaign, provided it's attached to something else to give them "cover".
Knox is quite optimistic that we aren't going to get screwed this time.
Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I've seen it happen way too many times to rest easy.
...is profoundly illustrative of the destructive vote buying Moderates that infest the rank and file of Republican leadership. SAFER??? REDUCED CRIME??? Upon what information does this fool make these conclusions? ALL honestly done surveys and statistics state the exact opposite.(See John Lott) The influence of 30+ States with CC is gratuitisly brushed aside. No "protection of gun owner's rights" has ever been researched based on the "Assault weapons ban".
And realizing that all law suits against gun manufacturers have been effectively lost, the use of the protection legislation is a red herring, a moldy bait only for the ignorant constituant.
Such "legislation by trade of right" is just the kind of eye candy that appeals to the NRAILA.
I read several other gun forums, and here's how it's looking for Bush.
About 25% are going to vote against him (not for Kerry, but third party).
25% are going to vote for him.
And 50% are going to base their vote on what happens with the AWB.
Keep in mind that in 2000, nearly 100% of these guys voted for Bush. Many supported him financially and volunteered for his campaign.
The fact that he's already lost 25% of them doesn't bode well for his re-election effort.
If he loses another 50%, he will lose big time in November.
I think you speak for millions of Patriots.
If you're going to pay the price, might as well commit the act....
Sounds about as smart as signing CFR, and hoping the Supreme Court will take out the Unconstitutional parts (most of it actually, but very little of it according the 9 in black).
My GUESS is that this will die in conference committee if the amendments are attached, BUT I am not taking it for granted.
The only "clean bill" will be one that DOES NOT Infringe on the 2A!
Damn it!!! I hate the election years and We have just started this one...
And even worse is when they then pass the amended turkey "without objection" at Oh-Dark_Thirty just before a long recess.
What the pols do here, determine my vote.
Right, but he is getting more than enough help from the Republicans in the State Senate, who almost doubled the amount Warner wanted.
Jack
No suprise here. Warner and DeWine are given "F" grades and Chafee an "F-" by GOA.
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