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Congress caves in on weapons ban (Kansas City Star editorial)
KC Star ^ | Sep. 12, 2004

Posted on 09/12/2004 6:53:37 PM PDT by Former Military Chick

Posted on Sun, Sep. 12, 2004

Congress caves in on weapons ban

The gun lobby flexed its muscles, and congressional leaders blinked.

As a result, a 10-year-old ban on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons will expire at midnight Monday — unless Republican leaders in Congress change their minds.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says there's no reason to bring legislation extending the ban up for a vote because it doesn't have enough votes to pass.

That seems like a dubious claim. The House legislation has 136 co-sponsors, including Reps. Karen McCarthy, Richard Gephardt and William Clay of Missouri and Dennis Moore of Kansas.

House Democrats differ with DeLay; they say the votes are there for an extension. DeLay personally opposes the ban, however. But shouldn't the rest of the members of Congress go on the record as to whether they support or oppose the ban?

Maybe that's the rub. Since the 1994 legislation went into effect, the National Rifle Association has focused on congressional members who supported it. Several lawmakers lost re-election bids because of the NRA's opposition. And the NRA has opposed any extension or expansion of the ban.

Most Americans, however, support restrictions on the military-style weapons covered by the 1994 law. The nation's police officers have been among the strongest advocates of the ban.

And according to a survey by the non-partisan National Annenberg Election Survey at the University of Pennsylvania, 57 percent of people with a gun in their household are OK with banning the weapons, which became popular with criminals because they are designed to be shot from the hip and to fire many rounds in rapid succession.

One argument against the ban is that it simply created a market for weapons with similar features that weren't covered by the legislation. That's an argument, however, for expanding the ban — not eliminating it.

Congress has a chance to reduce the number of dangerous weapons on the streets. Too bad it is letting the chance slip away.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: awb; bang; banglist; congress; nra; tomdelay; weapons
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To: Former Military Chick
Such open minded editors of the Star we have.

...which became popular with criminals because they are designed to be shot from the hip and to fire many rounds in rapid succession.

Ignorant, too.

41 posted on 09/12/2004 7:13:52 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: bray

It's DEAD, Jim. Champaine chilled yet?


42 posted on 09/12/2004 7:13:54 PM PDT by kcar (www.TheUNsucks.com)
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To: kapn kuek
Another odd coincidence is that despite the violence occurring in Iraq, the world is more peaceful and free of warfare now than it has been for some time.

Hmmm, is coincidence really the right word?
43 posted on 09/12/2004 7:15:02 PM PDT by NicknamedBob (John Flip-Flop Kerry led our nation to military defeat before ... He's just the man to do it again!)
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To: Former Military Chick
The gun lobby flexed its muscles, and congressional leaders blinked.

And the Liberals whine about the Patriot Act being such an assault on our civil rights. Hell, the Leftists perfected opportunistic assaults on our Constitutional Rights with their assault on the Second Amendment at every turn.

44 posted on 09/12/2004 7:18:03 PM PDT by Prime Choice (The Log Cabin Republicans AREN'T.)
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To: Former Military Chick

I would love to know who "Most" americans are.

I've yet to talk with more than 1 or 2 that supported the ban in the first place. I say supported, because after talking with them and explaining what the ban is all about, they no longer support it.


45 posted on 09/12/2004 7:20:42 PM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (Goodnight Chesty, wherever you may be.)
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To: Former Military Chick

If gun control worked LA, NY, and DC would be among the safest cities on the planet! Anytime a leftist tries to argue for gun control I simply point this out and end of argument.


46 posted on 09/12/2004 7:20:49 PM PDT by hawkiye
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To: kcar
This title is SO wrong. Had me fretting the RINOs and Dims had finally prevailed.

Me too. The first thought I had before clicking on the thread was .oO "those spineless b*st*rds!".

47 posted on 09/12/2004 7:21:41 PM PDT by Rightwing Conspiratr1 (Lock-n-load!)
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To: Former Military Chick; MeekOneGOP; Smartass; Geist Krieger; JohnHuang2; PhilDragoo; devolve; ...

"As a result, a 10-year-old ban on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons will expire at midnight Monday — unless Republican leaders in Congress change their minds."

_____________________________

Ask Australia, England or Canada if the violent crime rate went down when "assault" weapons were banned - ping.

48 posted on 09/12/2004 7:24:08 PM PDT by Happy2BMe (52 days until November 2nd)
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To: NicknamedBob
Another odd coincidence is that despite the violence occurring in Iraq, the world is more peaceful and free of warfare now than it has been for some time.

This could be the lull before the storm, or could be that the news media (Kerry's 527s) is too busy cutting and pasting memos to pay attention to the world.

49 posted on 09/12/2004 7:42:35 PM PDT by kapn kuek (Terrorism for Dummies: #7. When you hear terrorist, translate to islamic terrorist.)
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To: Former Military Chick

Open minded? Not to anything that those rabble-rousing rascals, the Founding Fathers would suggest! Imagine an armed populace! Imagine a government forbidden to take powers not outlined by the Constitution! Imagine freedom of conscience and privacy! That's an outrage, isn't it? [/sarcasm]


50 posted on 09/12/2004 7:43:09 PM PDT by risk
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To: OkiMusashi
"because they are designed to be shot from the hip and to fire many rounds in rapid succession."

I do that with all guns.
Granted I have to stop and reload more often with a 38 handgun...
I am a "point and shoot" kind of person, and that's how I practice.
All due respect to hunters and snipers, it's kind of stupid to pretend self-defense type gun owners like myself don't understand the role fear and adrenaline would play in a real world situation.
I won't ever win any formal target competitions, but I can dance a can with a 22 long for as many times as I have loaded rounds.
Gun control is being able to hit your target!
And yeah, I duct taped my banana clips together...LOL!
51 posted on 09/12/2004 7:55:36 PM PDT by sarasmom
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To: sarasmom
Check this out now: the final hour for this misbegotten evil:

Last hour!!!

52 posted on 09/12/2004 7:59:00 PM PDT by kcar (www.TheUNsucks.com)
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To: Former Military Chick

Whew....for a minute there when I saw that title-I thought Congress had backed down and decided to pass it...


53 posted on 09/12/2004 8:04:29 PM PDT by sam_whiskey (Peace through Strength)
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To: Former Military Chick

Wasn't crime outlawed In K.C. years ago? (Sarcasticly)


54 posted on 09/12/2004 8:09:14 PM PDT by Waco
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To: Former Military Chick
Should read "Kansas City Red Star".
55 posted on 09/12/2004 8:16:48 PM PDT by Missouri (Deport Te-rah-za)
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To: Happy2BMe
THANKS FOR THE PING

56 posted on 09/12/2004 8:30:17 PM PDT by Smartass (BUSH & CHENEY 2004 Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
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To: Former Military Chick
Most Americans, however, support restrictions on the military-style weapons covered by the 1994 law. The nation's police officers have been among the strongest advocates of the ban.

The ban is a bad idea, and those supporting it do so because they are ignorant of the issue. The end of this Clinton-era mistake is good for America. Congress needs to let the ban expire. All of us need to stand strong for members of Congress who stand against the ban.

Bill

57 posted on 09/12/2004 8:51:54 PM PDT by WFTR (Liberty isn't for cowards)
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To: Former Military Chick

I wonder how many freeper will post @ MIDNIGHT? ...2.5 min. from now :))


58 posted on 09/12/2004 8:57:38 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: kcar
MIDNIGHT, IS GONE, for now.
59 posted on 09/12/2004 9:00:04 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: Former Military Chick

Hey, how about swaping this legislation for ALL of the Federal Court appointments?


60 posted on 09/12/2004 9:02:36 PM PDT by olinr
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