Gun Control Still One of the Great Divides Between GOP and Democrats

Los Angeles Times ^ | 09-16-2004 | George Skelton

[boris]

Want to control guns? Elect Democrats.

Want to keep military-style assault weapons off the streets and out of schoolyards? Remove President Bush from the Oval Office. Replace U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

Think Americans in other states should be free to buy practically any firearm that intrigues them, with a jumbo clip so they can squeeze off 50 rounds without having to reload? Then reelect the Republican president and return Republicans to power in Congress.

But if you prefer California's toughest-in-the-nation state gun laws? Then you'd better keep Democrats in control of the Legislature.

Voters have just seen a vivid illustration of what it means to elect Democrats or Republicans, at least on the issue of firearms.

In 1994, under a Democratic president and a Democrat-controlled Congress, the federal government banned assault weapons and the manufacture of ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds. On Monday, with Republicans now in power, the president and Congress allowed the ban to expire.

"It makes me sick to my stomach," said the ban's chief sponsor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). She contended the percentage of assault weapons used in crimes had been cut by two-thirds during the 10-year ban.

[boris]

The times can be reached for comment at letters@latimes.com. You must include full name, address and phone. Only name and locale are printed.

Letters of 150 words or less have a better chance of being published.

[gunnygail]

Another BIG DIVIDE?

GOP: Strong America

DIMS: WEAK America under UN control.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

If they FEEL so strongly about this, why don't they change the constitution?

[gakrak]

Of course your right and then we can have the UN protect us like they are doing in the Sudan. Get real.

[gakrak]

Of course your right and then we can have the UN protect us like they are doing in the Sudan. Get real.

[Repairman Jack]

Think Americans in other states should be free to buy practically any firearm that intrigues them, with a jumbo clip so they can squeeze off 50 rounds without having to reload?

Damn straight!

[RexBeach]

More than 40-thousand people died in automobile accidents last year. How come no one wants to ban cars? What about bicycle-riding deaths? How about drownings? Is anyone trying to ban or reduce the amount of bike riding or swimming in America? Geez. No matter how you die...you're dead.

There are enough gun laws. Thousands of 'em.

Gee, I'm in a good mood this day , aren't I?

[gunnygail]

Oh yeah. The UN did a GREAT job in Rwanda, as long as you were part of the Tutsi tribe that is. The other tribe is down about 800,000 souls or so.

BTW, NICEEEEEE job Kofi and Klinton. Ya FLUBBED that one. Kofi, there must be NO OIL there. Klintoon, no interns there huh?

[gunnygail]

Memo to Dianne F:

"Yeah, we want to be able to carry a concealed weapon...JUST LIKE YOU DO!"

[RKV]

But if you prefer California's toughest-in-the-nation clearly unconstitutional state gun laws? Then you'd better keep Democrats in control of the Legislature.

[klimeckg]

"a jumbo clip so they can squeeze off 50 rounds without having to reload?"

Hmmm let's see 50 rounds of supressive fire or 17? I think I'll take the 50. That should keep the Dimowitts something to think about before they even dare kick in the front door om my home.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Pelosi is the Dem leader? Things have fallen to a new low.

[mich-a-billy]

It is interesting that the dems claim that Bush is making terrorist job easier by allowing this ban to expire. I haven't yet seen a video or picture form the middle east of the terrorist with out carrying some kind of assault weapon.

I think this ban expiring is a good thing, because now we as citizens have a little more power in protecting ourselves from these terrorist (and common everyday thugs) that ALREADY have these assault weapons.

Anyway, doesn't the Constitution allow use the have firearms? I haven't seen a cause in it that said "expect assault weapons"

That is my two-cents.

[xenophiles]

[Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)] contended the percentage of assault weapons used in crimes had been cut by two-thirds during the 10-year ban.

This looks like a badly corrupted statistic. (Is there a good word or phrase for a statistic that has been abused, quoted, requoted, misinterpreted and garbled until it has lost all validity?)

As written, this factoid could be explained by the manufacture of more "assault weapons" -- probably not what the Senator would favor. Rephrased to "the percentage of crimes in which assault weapons were used" might be closer to what she meant, although it could be explained by a surge in, say, real estate fraud. It would take several more revisions to reach something that supports her position, and then only by altering the statistic to support a given position with no regard for the original facts, whatever they may have been.

It is tragic that debauched "facts" like this can still sway people.

[99tango]

I think I had heard President Bush state that if the Senate would send him a bill for extending the ban, he would sign it. At the same time the DNC was warning to stay away from gun control issues. I think it was Clinton who even said that this one issue sunk Al Gore in the 2000 election. He could not even carry his own home state (TENN).

[risk]

Want to control guns?

BRAS-inspired target

BREATHE, RELAX, AIM, SQEEZE

[Towed_Jumper]

Gunny...just a point of correction...it was actually the Tutsis who were on the receiving end of the Rwandan national machette whoop-a$$ing administered by the Hutus. However, your point is still valid.

[lucysmom]

I think this ban expiring is a good thing, because now we as citizens have a little more power in protecting ourselves from these terrorist (and common everyday thugs) that ALREADY have these assault weapons.

Its a double edged sward - makes it easier for terrorists to get get the weapons too.

[joesnuffy]

Gun Control Still One of the Great Divides Between GOP and Democrats

The CONSTITUTION is still THE great divide between the two...and even among the one where it should not divide...

imo

[nightdriver]

"She contended the percentage of assault weapons used in crimes had been cut by two-thirds during the 10-year ban."

Yeah, sure, Feinstein. The way you handled that AR16 on that stage back in 1994, it's obvious that you don't know which end of a gun the bullets come out of.

You just want to disarm the American public. What I want to know is "why?"