The Evidence Is Clear: President Bush Is Blocking Assault Weapons Renewal, Says Brady Campaign

U.S. Newswire ^ | 7/22/2004

[Mr. Mojo]

WASHINGTON, July 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- There are only six days left when Congress is in session before the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban -- a law that President Bush pledged he'd renew as a candidate for President in 2000. "It makes no sense for assault weapons to be around our society," he said then. And another Republican leader made statements this week indicating the President can get a vote by simply asking for one.

"President Bush is blocking a vote on the Assault Weapons Ban," said Michael Barnes, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March.

Here's a brief review of published comments since May. First, on May 12, The Hill newspaper wrote "an aide to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) has said privately that if Bush pushes for it, the ban will probably be reauthorized. But if he doesn't, the chances of legislation's passing this year are remote."

Then, on June 24, the Boston Globe reported "Ken Lisaius, a White House spokesman, said Bush still supports the ban, but is waiting for the House to act."

Then, on July 11, the Washington Post reported the House Majority Leader Tom Delay said "we stated our position before the White House had to ask us... (the White House) knew not to (ask,) because the votes are not there."

Now, following a news conference held by Representatives Michael Castle (R-DE) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Delay told the daily newsletter Congressional Quarterly "there's no reason to use floor time for a vote just to have a vote on this particular subject," he said. "And unless directed otherwise, I see no reason to bring it to the floor."

The Assault Weapons Ban has enormous public support across the nation. A poll released last week by Penn, Schoen & Berland showed 66 percent of Republicans, 75 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of independents supported renewal.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March is planning a growing effort to save the law, with television and print advertising, phone banks, grassroots lobbying efforts across the nation throughout August, culminating in the first week in September.

[Mr. Mojo]

Bang!

[steplock]

The Prez is blocking illegal laws? Sounds good to me.

[1066AD]

Deserves to die. Utterly stupid law, cosmetic appeal (to some) only.

[Redcoat LI]

I read the entire article,and I still do not understand how the Prez. is "blocking" the vote.

I think U.S Newswires could have chosen a more accurate title.

[Southack]

This has got to go down in history as the worst political strategy in American elections...to try to blame Bush, who said he would sign an extention of the AWB, for not getting the votes needed in Congress.

So they are blaming a guy who would sign their bill, and they are bringing up a topic that costs the Dems votes every year, and they've only got 6 legislative sessions left (meaning, they've already lost because a simple filibuster or committee conference deep sixes this puppy now).

Frankly, Bush has beaten the Left hard over this issue by simply forcing Congress to take a stand.

It's a thing of beauty. This will be the SECOND repeal of federal gun control under President Bush (arming pilots was already the first gun control repeal in federal history).

And the 3rd repeal of federal gun control is on deck for tomorrow: the repeal of prohibitions against off-duty cops carrying firearms state to state nationally.

We're looking at 3 federal repeals of gun control under President Bush's first Administration!

Bit by bit we are erasing the nonsense of the 1960's on.

6 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[kcvl]

Good.

As the Hollywood liberals would say, we southern conservative christians only think about Guns, God, Gays, Abortion and a new one OIL.

[krb]

Good!

[ebiskit]

"It makes no sense for assault weapons to be around our society,"

They make sense when you have TERRORISTS in the country. As well as when liberals/marxists are in DC.

Oh please Mr. Terrorist, please don't hurt me.

peace....D

[Dan from Michigan]

Time to call Mike Rogers office and Tom Delay's office to make sure this dies.

[Sofa King]

Misleading headlines are a prime outlet for media bias.

[Itzlzha]

"President Bush is blocking a vote on the Assault Weapons Ban," said Michael Barnes, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March.

Here, let me give you a reply that should make you swoon...all warm & fuzzy-like...

"Better put some ICE on that!"

[Jet Jaguar]

He had better let it sunset. Nuff said.

[coconutt2000]

It looks like if it passes the Congress... The President will sign it.

Looks to me like the President isn't the one blocking it. Claiming that the President has the power to push legislation through proves a lack of knowledge about our government. If it was true that Bush could command the Republican votes in the House and Senate, then the Marriage Amendment would not have had any dissenting Republican votes.

The fact of the matter is, this is an attempt to make the President look like he is reneging, when in fact he is not. He is powerless to change the votes in the Congress. What's left is for voters to decide if this is a deal breaker issue when considering who to elect to Congress this November.

Yeah.

[Southack]

"Time to call Mike Rogers office and Tom Delay's office to make sure this dies."

Not even on the list. Tomorrow is the last day before Congress goes on their Summer vacation (through September 6), and the vote scheduled for tomorrow is on the *REPEAL* of the federal prohibition (de facto) of off-duty cops carrying firearms state to state.

6 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[flashbunny]

"It's a thing of beauty. This will be the SECOND repeal of federal gun control under President Bush (arming pilots was already the first gun control repeal in federal history)."

The armed pilot law is a sham. They've made it so difficult for pilots to qualify and carry that they might as well hand out squirt guns.

[Redcoat LI]

Misleading headlines are a prime outlet for media bias.

I guess "Bush wants you,your family and your pets gunned down by AK-47's" was taken.

[NRA2BFree]

Even though he said he would sign it if it crossed his desk, they still blame President Bush. It's going to get ugly in August when the anti-gunners start their massive ad campaign against the sunset.

[Southack]

"The armed pilot law is a sham. They've made it so difficult for pilots to qualify and carry that they might as well hand out squirt guns."

Nonsense. More than 1,000 pilots are already armed, with some 3,000 more finishing up their training right now.

That severely reduces the number of flights without either an armed Marshall or pilot, and is hardly a sham.

Moreover, that's the first *ever* repeal of federal gun control. You've got to start somewhere.

6 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[AF68]

U.S Newswires and PR Newswire are nothing but the vanity press. For a fee, special interest groups write their own copy and submit articles promoting their own agendas. It's like Al Franken paying pissant radio stations to broadcast his dreck.