Posted on 06/03/2002 3:42:12 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed
Issue three: Anti-gun is gone.
CHARLTON HESTON: (From videotape.) -- from my cold, dead hands! (Applause, cheers.)
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Guns: They were a hot issue in the 2000 presidential election, but no more. Gun sales rose sharply in the U.S. following the September terrorist attack. And politicians -- even the Democrats have shied away from criticizing American gun laws. The Democrats suffered heavy election losses from espousing gun control in 2000. West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee: all lost by Gore in 2000.
Now many Democrats in Southern and rural states are looking to take on the Warner way. That is, mix socially progressive values with a pro-gun-rights stance, a la Democratic Virginia Governor Mark Warner. And get this: last week, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a radical shift in gun control policy. He claims the Second Amendment, quote, "broadly protects the right of individuals," unquote, to own firearms, thus rejecting the long-held interpretation that the Second Amendment only guarantees the right to bear arms to militias.
And yet, no major whining from Democrats. Long-time gun-control advocate Sarah Brady of the Brady Law recently bought a rifle. She defends her right to bear arms as an individual. I don't think it's hypocritical at all, because I have always said any law-abiding person should be able to purchase a gun. It's the terrorists and the fugitives and the felons and the background checks that we need to take to keep them out of the wrong hands. Charlton Heston and his National Rifle Association are more influential than ever, with membership growing daily.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Question: How else do we know that the anti-gun cult is dead? I ask you, James Warren.
MR. WARREN: The Democrats are especially nervous after September 11. It's not a favorable position. B, the NRA was underestimated in the 2000 election. C, you've got prototypical Democrats like Zell Miller of Georgia who are urging them to, you know, take a position lest they infuriate more white males, who they need to win a presidential election nationally.
MS. CLIFT: But having said all that, I think Senator Lieberman and Senator John McCain are going to succeed in finally closing the gun-show loophole years after it was first introduced.
Gun control is not dead in this country.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: I take note we now have gun clubs making a comeback on campus. The Harvard Law School target shooting club; the Mount Holyoke gun club for women, Eleanor; Maryland Institute College of Arts gun club; the Reed College shooting sports club in liberal Oregon state.
"Gun-show loophole" is NewSpeak for "Federal registration of privately owned firearms involved in a private sale conducted between private individuals in a privately owned home on private property."
A small quibble - it was gun owners, only some of whom are in the NRA, who were underestimated. The NRA currently has 4.2 million members and had fewer then. Although that is a very significant voting block it alone did not turn the tide.
While it would not be a bad thing to divorce this issue from the Democrat/Republican dichotomy I don't see it happening any time soon. It is simply too useful to demonize the NRA for the more liberal wing of the Dems to give up that tool. They'll soft-pedal it, but it'll be there for a long time to come.
the immigration loophole. the security loophole. the border loophole.
these pricks arent worried about loopholes.
they are worried about removing the one right that will allow them complete rule and dominance of the citizenry.
if the shooting starts, for whatever reason, terrorists, riots, etc., make damn sure the people who ask YOU for protection and help were not the same folks who wanted to deny you that ability.
My of my, that must be a sight to behold. I wonder if the target have no numbers on them so people's self esteem will not be harmed by the ugly issue of numerical competition and scoring.
Then again, maybe the targets are allowed to have pictures of stylized Republican Elephants and photo's of Newt Gingrich or a bible on them. Reed College shooting sports club......hmmm, will wonders never cease.
That does create an alarming mental image that pegs the needle on the "Yikes!!" meter, doesn't it?
So, does this mean that the republicans in Congress and the Dubya are going to repeal the unconstitutional ban on evil assault weapons and high-capacity magazines?
If not, then this is just the same old hot air coming from DC.
Words mean nothing. Only action counts.
dan
I think what counts is inaction. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 1994 legislation expires ten years from the date of enactment. If only California's laws had a similar expiration date.
Oh, yes, that long-held interpretation which is held only by anti-Constitutional socialist tyrants...
And I almost forgot, -- You usually need your #2 man, - texasforever, -- around to back you up.
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