Kerry (Gephardt, Kucinich) Backs Tough Assault Weapons Ban (worse than current ban)

Join Together/CSGV ^ | 11-24-03 | Blaine Rummel

[Dan from Michigan]

Kerry Backs Tough Assault Weapons Ban
11/24/2003

Press Release
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
1023 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
www.gunfree.org

Contact:
Blaine Rummel
Phone: 202-408-0061 x118

Senator delivers on promise to stand up to the NRA

Washington, DC - Senator John Kerry (D-MA) has co-sponsored S. 1431, a bill that will renew and strengthen the federal assault weapons ban. The action reinforces recent comments he made promising that his would not be the "candidacy of the NRA. We stand up against that."

"Senator Kerry clearly means what he says about standing up for gun safety and saving lives," said Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "We call on the remaining candidates to state their strong support for renewing and strengthening the assault weapons ban."

Senator Kerry joins Reps. Kucinich and Gephardt as the only Democratic presidential candidates co-sponsoring legislation that not only renews but also strengthens the federal assault weapons ban. Candidates Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton also support a strengthened ban, according to their responses to CSGV's candidate survey. The current ban is set to expire September 13, 2004 unless President Bush and Congress act.

Why the Ban Needs To Be Strengthened
The 1994 ban outlaws specific models of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. But in a willful attempt to violate the spirit of the law, the gun industry continues to manufacture "post-ban" assault weapons guns identical to those banned except for minor cosmetic changes. The Bushmaster XM15 used in last fall's sniper attacks, for example, is a "post-ban" version of the AR15 assault rifle, which is banned under current law.

S. 1431 and H.R. 2038, its House companion, will not only renew the ban, but also prevent the gun industry from manufacturing "post-ban" assault weapons such as the Bushmaster XM15.H.R. 2038 has 108 sponsors.

For more information on the candidates' positions on the gun violence prevention issue, visit www.CandidatesOnGuns.org.

Date of Release: November 24, 2003

[Dan from Michigan]

In addition, this bill would allow the AG to ban guns if he decides to call it a so called assault weapon.

[Dan from Michigan]

PING

[Constitutional Patriot]

I have a feeling that these guys really want to lose big in the next election.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Bawb is so clueless he actually thinks this will HELP him get elected.

He has no idea what happened in 1994. He thinks it was just random error on the part of voters.

[.cnI redruM]

Maybe, just maybe, this will allow Bush to veto the crappy legislation w/o breaking a campaign promise, or cause the HoR to shoot it down. Bush cravenly promised to renew the current one, not enact a harsher one.

[CygnusXI]

Maybe we should stop calling them assault weapons, that just plays into their "PC speak" to demonize rifles.

I won't use their language!!

New Title:

Kerry (Gephardt, Kucinich) Backs Tough modern rifle Ban (worse than current ban).

[wjcsux]

It appears that the RATS are trying to appeal to their voter base. The only problem is that their base is either dead, incarcerated, or has wised up.

[Puppage]

But in a willful attempt to violate the spirit of the law

So, now one must abide by the SPIRIT of the law? Gun haters say "you can't have a gun with this, that or the other thing".Fine, these don't, they're now LEGAL.

Could it be you're just afraid of them? Or, maybe it's just BAD law to begin with, hmm?

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

"....prevent the gun industry....."

Does that include the basement & garage "industries", as well? Just curious.......

Yes, yes......it would be "illegal", but does it "prevent"........anything? Therein lies the rub.

[Uncle Hal]

Hopefully Tom DeLay and friends will bottle this bill up in the House so that it never sees the light of day.

[kildak]

You could really throw the anti's in a spin by calling it the Homeland Defense Rifle ban!

[oyez]

If these guys haven't realized the the AW ban of '94 was the beginning of the end for the Democrats they are out of the loop and going........going.....gone.

[cryptical]

I nominate Sport/Utility Rifle (SUR).

[AD from SpringBay]

I have a feeling that these guys really want to lose big in the next election.

That's an interesting possibility. They're against the war in Iraq, for gun control at home, for more taxes, for the futher erosion of marriage . . . things that make you go hmmmmm...

[Sender]

I always thought "Grandpa's huntin' rifle" just about sums up the AR-15.

[ex 98C MI Dude]

In theory, any firearm could be considered an'assault' weapon, as it can be used to attack. Assault means 'to attack'. Sneaky lib language in that thar bill.

What part of 'the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed' do these people not understand?

[El Gato]

Maybe, just maybe, this will allow Bush to veto the crappy legislation w/o breaking a campaign promise, or cause the HoR to shoot it down.

More likely it will serve as cover for making the current ban permanent and baning import of full capacity magazines, no matter when manufactured. That way the RINOs can say, "Well looks what we blocked" and "this was the best "compromise" we could get".

[Southack]

This move is interesting in that Kerry, Kuchinich, and Gephardt are clearly sacrificing their electability in '04 on the altar of short-term left-driven primary advantage.

It's always been known that Democrats run to the Left in primaries and then back to the Center in the general election, but this sort of anti-gun-rights move would be quite an avil to haul around in the general election next year.

It makes pro-gun Dean's chances look far better than their own, in contrast. That's quite a risk to take for Kerry and Gephardt.

Sheesh, next someone's going to tell me that Dean's potential VP candidate pick is going to Afghanistan for a photo op with our troops over the Thanksgiving holidays...

[ExSoldier]

It's my Homeland Defense rifle...

[ExSoldier]

"In theory, any firearm could be considered an'assault' weapon..."

However, in FACT, the US Army has a pure definition of "assault weapon" and that is any firearm carried by a single infantryman (that is to say, not "crew served") which has a selector switch so the weapon can fire on full auto mode or burst mode. That's why an M16 is a true assault weapon while the civilian model AR15 is not! A simple silly little selector switch. Duh.