Bush Backs Renewing Assault Weapons Ban

Washington Post ^ | April 12, 2003 | Unknown

[Mini-14]

The Bush administration is bucking the National Rifle Association and supporting a renewal of the assault weapons ban, set to expire just before the presidential election. "The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told Knight Ridder.

Tossing out the ban on semiautomatic weapons is a top priority of the NRA. Bush said during his presidential campaign that he supported the ban, but it was less clear whether he would support an extension.

[ought-six]

"Look, American Politics is/should be about finding the middle ground that suits the population as a whole."

No! No! No! The Constitution was written in large measure to protect the unpopular and the disadvantaged citizen against the tyranny of the majority! If the "populaton as a whole" decided that infant girls should be killed at birth, or people over the age of seventy would have to be euthanized because the country is getting too crowded, would that be okay with you? What if "the population as a whole" decided to resurrect slavery? That's okay with you, as well? I don't think so. But if it is, then you belong in a different century or a different country.

[chnsmok]

Knee-jerk rudeness never has credibility.

Not to mention it would be stupid, obtuse and being difficult.

[B4Ranch]

". We have to demand him an explanation. If he provides none or rationalizes things, then I will start to worry, not until then. "

When you get him to that stage, ask about the open borders situation also.

[heckler]

AMEN.

Pure Democracy kills.

[Timmy]

First of all, the "assault weapons ban" doesn't actually DO anything. It was a cosmetics bill that has already been sidestepped by all gun manufacturers. Remember, it's only a piece of paper. Why should Bush spend political capital on something that he cannot win the PR war on and which will accomplish NOTHING? Also, who knows if it will ever even get to his desk to sign?

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

You must have been smoking much better stuff than I am because lifting sanctions would have given all the profit to France and Russia, who alread had the oil contracts.

This is absolutely obvious and that is why I need to state the obvious to you. The US is now in COMPLETE control of Iraq and their oil exports. Russia and France have zero control. That is the sole reason for the invasion, et. al. You are pretty naive to believe otherwise. I know I will never convince you, as you genuflect before Saint George the Altruist, with your naive thinking that he forfeited profit by ignoring the UN and invading Iraq. You are quite completely wrong. He and his friends will profit obscenely from this.

[Timmy]

Golly, folks. A bunch of you are being ridiculous. The assault weapon ban defined assault weapons as "guns having one or more of the following characteristics:" which, if I remember correctly, were bayonet, flash suppressor, etc. etc. Extending this bill does NOTHING. If you are going to turn on Bush for this, you are fools. I, too, am a NRA member, and I assure you that most of us have more sense then to get too excited over this. Bush has been very good to gun owners and second amendment watchdogs, and you better not forget it.

[VRWC_minion]

You must have been smoking much better stuff than I am because lifting sanctions would have given all the profit to France and Russia, who alread had the oil contracts.

It would have been done with conditions of course. No one enters a negotiation without getting something in return. France/UN would have loved to have control over a deal like that. You must have some really good stuff.

[VRWC_minion]

This is absolutely obvious and that is why I need to state the obvious to you. The US is now in COMPLETE control of Iraq and their oil exports. Russia and France have zero control.

I understand that but it was at the risk of a war and the uncertain consequences. Maybe this isn't obvious to a person in a smoke filled room. Bush could have made the deal with Saddam and France and avoided the scorn of Europe and he "buddies" would still get the oil contracts.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

You are so completely uninformed about the effect of the assault weapons ban it is sad.

No semi-automatic rifle can be imported into America that holds more than 10 rounds and no magazine may be imported into America that holds more than 10 rounds. And you call this nothing out of ignorance.

There are few, very few US-made rifles along similar lines to the ones exclusivly banned by the language of the AWB. No-one can legally make magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Now, how is this not an infringement on the 2nd Amendment? Indeed, it is a severe infringement. Even if you believe no one needs a rifle that holds more than 10 rounds, it is STILL a severe infringement. Period.

[Princeliberty]

When the issue is the power of government/
the size of Goverment Bush's ALWAYS is
for more power to the Government and
a bigger government so really Bush is
just being true to his socialist principles.

[TexasCowboy]

"I suggest if you aren't a member of an organization, you quit speculating to their actions."

I read everything the NRA sends me word by word.
For someone to say that the NRA would support anyone over the support of our Second Amendment rights just doesn't know the NRA!
The best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our Constitution is to support the NRA.
The Second Amendment is the backbone of all the rest.
The NRA has another donation coming from me today !

[backhoe]

Thank you!

[VRWC_minion]

He and his friends will profit obscenely from this.

In addition to explaining how he would profit more by having a war than by using his political power to cut a deal, please define "obscene profits". How much is that exactly ? Is it a return of say 20%,200% ? I was always curious as to how a liberal determines someone made too much profit and what the dividing line is.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

France/UN would have loved to have control over a deal like that.

Which would have occured if Bush had lifted Sanctions and had complied with the UN not to use force.

YOU PROVE MY POINT. Thank you :-)

[sinkspur]

By the way, I'd like to note that in my conservative circles at school just last week, several right-leaning students surprised me when they said, during some good war news, that they thought GWB probably wouldn't be re-elected.

You actually pay attention to prognostications by students?

[Mr. Mojo]

So, we own both Houses of Congress in addition to the Executive branch (the ideal situation we've all been longing and working for), and we still have to deal with this shit? WTF is the point?

[Shooter 2.5]

Sorry Timmy,

If this law banned not a single firearm, it would still be a bad law. Any law that puts the blame on the weapon and not on the user is a bad law.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Bush could have made the deal with Saddam and France and avoided the scorn of Europe and he "buddies" would still get the oil contracts.

You are far beyond smoking. I think you have been eating those funny mushrooms dipped in LSD. Can your condition be medically corrected or were you born this slow?

[Eaker]

COB, I want my hat!

Bobby, I want my gun bag.

I want.....I want......I always want something!!!!