Assault Weapon Ban extension PASSES (Senate amendment to gun industry protection bill)

C-Span ^ | 3-2-04 | Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-CA

[Atlas Sneezed]

The vote was:

52 -Aye in favor of extending the ban 47 -Nay opposed to the ban.

[Imal]

"How, precisely, is a ban on assault weapons a violation of the 2nd Amendment?"

A far better question is "Where in the Constitution is Congress given the authority to ban 'Assault Weapons'?"

When you find the answer to that question, your journey of discovery will have only begun.

Cheers.

[Lazamataz]

Remember the 1994 elections? Those who neglect history are doomed to repeat it.

Only this time, instead of turning out in record numbers, gun owners will be abandoning ALL of the Republican Party in record numbers.

If this goes forward, I expect a realignment to a Democrat House and a Democrat Senate, and a possibility of a Democrat President.

And I won't be lifting a freakin' finger to stop it.

After all, if I must choose between slow poison (Bush) or being shot (Kerry), I'd still be dead at the end of the week.

[JohnnyZ]

But if you know how the system works, the House and Senate versions are reconciled in 'committee'. That's where it will go back in.

It will A) not make it out of conference committee, and B) still has to pass both chambers when it comes out of conference, and if it were to come out of conference with the AWB, which it won't, it wouldn't get out of the House.

It's possible that the Senate will refuse to pass the clean (no AWB) bill, so the liability protection won't get passed, but I tend to think they will go along with the clean bill.

[Dogbert41]

It's going to have to get to the bottom in order for enough people to rise up and fix it. I'm getting to old to wait for my kids to have to do that fight. I am going to press for it to happen sooner, rather than later.

[Badray]

"Let's get this second revolution started while I can still squeeze a trigger, and remember why."

Dittos!

[kcvl]

Kerry and Nelson? ROFLOL - that would be ONE BORING pair! I don't know which one would put me to sleep faster. BORING! YAWN...

[My2Cents]

I've just never been able to figure out why, to some people, the ability to fire-off a clip of bullets by simply a series of squeezes of a trigger is the ultimate test of liberty.

[El Gato]

What diff will it make who picks the "supreems"? seems like some of the worst smelling ones were nominated by Repub presidents.

An excellent point, the majority of the Justices who voted to declare the worst provisions of the CFR law constitutional are Republican appointees. Don't know about the worst smelling ones, a couple of 'Rat appointees are probalby the worst of the lot, but not necessarily by all that much.

[StoneColdGOP]

Precisely. The herd will follow whoever carries the golden "R".

[carton253]

There was no reason to vote for it or sign it. Both were acts of cowardice.

Of course, this is nothing more than your opinion.

And that's a fact! :)

[Lazamataz]

There's really nothing more to say. You would cheer for Bush if he formed a Central Planning Committee and converted us to Communism.

In fact, you'd lead the damned parade for him.

Nina Burleigh, you have met your match.

[MassExodus]

And I will send you a high-cap Glock magazine when it sunsets

If you got 'em, better take care of 'em ... 'cuz that's the end of them.

I'm with Laz on this one.

[Monty22]

"I've just never been able to figure out why, to some people, the ability to fire-off a clip of bullets by simply a series of squeezes of a trigger is the ultimate test of liberty."

'I've never understood why people saying what they want to politically, when they want, is the ultimate test of liberty'.

[No.6]

"If the AWB is put into law, it will no longer be that either team is fighting for my side."

Bingo. How can I be on their side if they are not on my side?

The, no, capital THE, reason the Republicans hold majorities in the House and Senate is the AWB. The anger over this action did something the Republicans couldn't do on their own in 40 years of trying.

AWB is not just *a* gun ban, it's the focal point of the entire gun debate. The reason is simple: AWB was not based on any reason however spurious (such as regulations on fully-automatic firearms) but prohibits guns based solely on their appearance. More to the point, the evidence is now in hand showing no crime effect whatsoever from the AWB; so anyone voting for it now knows dam well it isn't for reasons of the citizens' safety.

If a completely arbitrary standard exists for which guns are permitted and which are not, then no gun owner can say that his gun is safe from a ban because it's for sport, or for hunting. Their particular firearm may not yet be banned but if their choice is regulated at the whim of Congress then it is not a right, but a permission.

For 10 years the story has been that the Democrats did this, and it would go away if we elected Republicans. Now I know there are RINOs in the Senate (big surprise) and so there's no cause to panic UNTIL the whole party fails us by failing to remove the AWB in conference &/or by failing to veto a bill that arrives at W's desk with an AWB extension attached.

Should AWB be renewed the same force that put Republicans in office and maintained them in office will stop doing so. I've spent some time talking to people for whom illegal immigration is their go/nogo issue, advising them not to panic until something actually happens. Well, the 2nd is my go/nogo issue, and something's happening.

I hope that Chris (section9) is correct in his estimation. I know that Karl Rove is not a stupid person and I believe he has not underestimated the political will of 2nd Amendment supporters. So I'll see what happens, and vote accordingly.

[Dane]

If this goes forward, I expect a realignment to a Democrat House and a Democrat Senate, and a possibility of a Democrat President.

And I won't be lifting a freakin' finger to stop it.

After all, if I must choose between slow poison (Bush) or being shot (Kerry), I'd still be dead at the end of the week

Yawn. Like I said you have no right to complain about Janet Reno II if Kerry wins.

BTW, keep on posting Laz, it helps the cause when you post such things as hoping for a Kerry Presidency and Janet Reno II as Attorney General.

[Libertarian444]

Landrieu was just reelected in 2002. She won't be up again til 2008.

My guess is the Rats new they had the thing won even without Mary's vote so the Rat Leadership "let" her vote against the AWB to protect her for future campaigns.

[Lazamataz]

It will A) not make it out of conference committee

If JimRob didn't specifically ask us not to do this, I would wager you $20 on this.

[dixiepatriot]

Thankfully, both of my Senators, Miller and Chambliss, voted against it.

[kcvl]

That's why you are having GAY MARRIAGES in California. Don't worry about it, they will NEVER get that far. RIGHT?! That is the same for EVERY issue, including guns. Give them an inch and they will take a mile.

[freeeee]

It is telling that you would compare a 2 year old and his parent to citizens and our government.