Posted on 01/18/2005 12:33:16 PM PST by snowsislander
WASHINGTON -- Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales told the Senate on Tuesday that he supports extending the expired federal assault weapons ban.
Gonzales also said he wants Congress to get rid of a requirement that would eliminate part of the Patriot Act this year, despite complaints that it is too intrusive.
"I believe the USA PATRIOT Act has greatly improved our nation's ability to detect and prevent terrorist attacks," Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee in written answers to questions left over from his confirmation hearing.
Gonzales, who served as President Bush's lawyer during his first term, is expected to be confirmed when the Senate returns after Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20. He would be the nation's first Hispanic attorney general and replace John Ashcroft.
Democrats, including Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., pressed Gonzales for written answers to several of their questions during his daylong confirmation hearing. Those answers were delivered on Tuesday to the committee, which planned a Wednesday meeting to consider nominations.
Congress let the 10-year-old assault weapons ban expire in September. The measure outlawed 19 types of military-style assault weapons, banned certain features on firearms such as bayonet mounts, and limited ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
Gonzales pointed out that his brother Tony is a SWAT officer in Houston.
"I worry about his safety and the types of weapons he will confront on the street," Gonzales said. "The president has made it clear that he stands ready to sign a reauthorization of the federal assault weapons ban if it is sent to him by Congress. I, of course, support the president on this issue."
Antigun groups criticized Bush during the presidential campaign for failing to press for an extension of the ban.
Gonzales also said he supports the reauthorization of the Patriot Act, the post-Sept. 11 law that expanded the government's surveillance and prosecutorial powers against suspected terrorists, their associates and financiers.
More than a dozen provisions of the law are set to expire by late October 2005 unless renewed by Congress. These include authority for judges to issue search warrants that apply nationwide, authority for FBI and criminal investigators to share information about terrorism cases, and the FBI's power to obtain records in terrorism-related cases from businesses and other entities, including libraries.
"I believe the sunsets that apply to several provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act should be repealed," Gonzales said.
Opponents have called the law intrusive and contend that letting the FBI get library records undermines civil liberties and threatens to let the government snoop into the reading habits of innocent Americans.
Gonzales says people have misunderstood what parts of the Patriot Act does. "I am unaware of abuses under the USA PATRIOT Act," he said. "For this reason, I welcome an honest and real debate."
Gonzales said he is willing to consider tempering that part of the law.
The statute says business and library records must be "sought for" a terrorism investigation. Opponents have claimed that means the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court - the secret court that approves surveillance and wiretaps for espionage and terrorism cases - had no choice about whether to grant the subpoena.
"I would be happy for the statute to be amended to state the investigators may ask the FISA court for an order requesting the production of documents 'relevant to' an ongoing foreign intelligence investigation," Gonzales said.
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Ahhhh HA !
We've been horse traded I think......Why else would Sen Diane Fienstine get up and support Rice while Boxer was slamming her......
I smell doo doo......and eaker ain't here !
He's NOT Supreme Court material, that's for sure.
Bump to that. I don't like Gonzalez's stance on this, and for this reason alone wouldn't nominate him, but this is an issue we're stuck with if we voted for Bush. Fortunately, the ban is dead in the House anyway.
I don't doubt that we agree. But I have to wonder sometimes why it seems to have been so easy to get CCW passed. Are we winning or are they sucking us into the trap?
A little paranoia, is all. I'll be okay in the morning. ;-)
The guy is a real piece of work. He favors affirmative action, too. And to think that he's a possible Bush SCOTUS nominee.
How was last night's KKK meeting?
Perhaps not, but the NRA won this election for Bush, and the NRA helped a large number of Senators and Representatives get elected or re-elected, based on their avowed SUPPORT for RKBA.
While I don't advocate declaring victory, it's a long, long road from where were at now to a renewed AWB.
Perhaps not, but the NRA won this election for Bush, and the NRA helped a large number of Senators and Representatives get elected or re-elected, based on their avowed SUPPORT for RKBA.
While I don't advocate declaring victory, it's a long, long road from where were at now to a renewed AWB.
Can anyone show me the positive results from the FBI's access to library records?
Alot like, can anyone show me the positive results from gun control laws?
Now, now, citizen. You know better than to ask silly questions like that. The all-powerful God-state is looking out for you -- never doubt this.
Keep talking like that and we may have to gift you with a "re-education vacation". For your own good, of course.
"For your own godd, of course."
And for the common good, don't forget.
Are you calling Bush a liar?
He also says he will do nothing to disturb or try to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Is this the kind of Attorney General that conservatives (other then Republibots) want?
Never mind the Second Amendment. Why should we expect the Attorney General to enforce that? That wouldn't be PC.
I don't remember him speaking on the issue at all. Since he worked for Bush, and Bush was for it, then I'd guess he'd be on Bush's side.
The fact that he didn't say anything about it suggests that he was not a supporter of the President's point of view. When you agree, you say so. When you don't, you're a team player by keeping your mouth shut on the issue (after giving the President your best advice.)
So if Ashcroft disagreed with the President on the assault weapons ban, it is very likely that he would just not say anything about it.
The AWB was not repealed, it was allowed to expire. Big difference.
The AWB was not repealed, it was allowed to expire. Big difference.
More quality people in the cabinet of the compassionate conservative party.
Did you notice I used the word "essentially?"
Do you know the meaning of the word "essentially?"
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