Widower crusades to ban assault weapons

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 9/27/2002 | Edward Epstein

[Joe Brower]

Washington -- A grimly determined Steve Sposato is back in the capital this week to campaign against assault weapons, nine years after a gunman toting two of the semiautomatic weapons killed his wife, Jody, and seven others at 101 California St. in San Francisco.

[Joe Brower]

Another preemptive strike by the useful idiots in seeking the continuance of the 1994 "assault weapons" ban, in order to prevent it's sunset. You can bet your last dollar that the leftmedia will be pulling out all the stops to lend any and all assistance to the enemies of freedom.

2004 is going to be an interesting year. Prepare now.

[Joe Brower]

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[ZULU]

"FEINSTEIN'S SUPPORT


The senator, who as a freshman legislator got national attention for her gun control effort, is ready for the battle, said spokesman Howard Gantman."

Does this mean Senator Frankenstein will give up her purse gun? That hypocritical witch is as evil as she looks and that says a lot.

[Beelzebubba]

I call them "Sport-Utility Rifles."

And their most legitimate use is being ready to fight enemies of liberty, whether foreign or domestic, whether elected or unelected criminals.

[Landru]

We really need to pass the hat so we can send Mr. Sposato on an all expenses paid trip to Milwaukee's inner north side, for a *vacation*!!

Yea, I was thinking about somewhere +/- a few blocks from 5th & Walnut; or, perhaps 3rd & North??
Yea...
A nice *relaxing* time spent in a "Great Place By A Great Lake" such as peaceful ol' Brew City for this citizen, is just what the Doctor prescribes.

...that's the PRx called for here, alright. :o)

[Brush_Your_Teeth]

Another preemptive strike by the useful idiots in seeking the continuance of the 1994 "assault weapons" ban, in order to prevent it's sunset. You can bet your last dollar that the leftmedia will be pulling out all the stops to lend any and all assistance to the enemies of freedom.

Lastime I checked president bush supported the perm ban of assault rifles.

[Shooter 2.5]

Joe, I've been meaning to thank you for the great graphics on the second post.
There are people who complain that they have to listen to one of the gun group's telemarketers on the phone or open up mail from the gun groups. At the same time, they want everyone to believe they would be willing to fight a civil war to protect their rights. Hogwash!
I don't believe for a second that the people complaining of such minor items as phone calls or mail would watch my back in an uprising.
So we can continue our fight with the ballot box, we have to get all of the gun owners involved. 95% of the gunowners more than willing to sit on the sidelines and do nothing is a disgrace. Thanks again for a great image.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

ah yes...the mythical yet terrifying Assault Weapon Monster.

[steveegg]

You're a bit too far east. I prefer 22nd and Galena, or perhaps 20th and North.

[Shooter 2.5]

The exact quote was, "he would sign it if it came across his desk".
Let's make sure it doesn't get there. We need to get control of the Senate and keep the House so it doesn't have a chance to go that far.

[hopespringseternal]

Lastime I checked president bush supported the perm ban of assault rifles.

He is a fool if he thinks he can sign such a bill and win a second term. He may say that, but he better be real sure he never gets called on it.

[MrB]

Does the 1994 ban include the "high capacity" provision.

i.e. if the ban is not re-instated in 2004, can we get our hicaps back?

[toddst]

Does this mean Senator Frankenstein will give up her purse gun? That hypocritical witch is as evil as she looks and that says a lot.

What Feinstein and her cohorts are hoping (perhaps working) for is some big incident where "assault rifles" are used to kill innocent citizens (preferably children, from their perspective.) They'll what the incident to happen right before a vote is taken on the renewal bill.

It's irritating that George W. said earlier he was for renewal of the act. However, I suspect he knows better than to alienate gun-owners who are his supporters and sign the renewal bill if it reaches his desk. We hope the bill is DOA in Congress.

[Joe Brower]

I call them "Sport-Utility Rifles."

Yes, me too. The power of langauge, as Alan Korwin put it.

[Joe Brower]

And your point is... ?

[freeeee]

"he would sign it if it came across his desk"

True colors shining through....

[Joe Brower]

Totally my pleasure, Shooter. That image is from the estimable Oleg Volk.

Feel free to mine my website -- there's a lot more images where that came from. Link and utilize freely! It's all there for the cause.

[Joe Brower]

Does the 1994 ban include the "high capacity" provision.

Yes, that is my understanding.

i.e. if the ban is not re-instated in 2004, can we get our hicaps back?

From what I gather, manufacture would resume.

Any corrections to the above, please chime in.

[flashbunny]

Backing statistics can be found here

Flashbunny.org- Pro-Freedom Propaganda

[FreeTally]

Does the 1994 ban include the "high capacity" provision. i.e. if the ban is not re-instated in 2004, can we get our hicaps back?

Yes, I believe so. I think there was a subsequent law enacted banning the importation of them.

[southern rock]

A grimly determined Steve Sposato is back in the capital this week to campaign against assault weapons, nine years after a gunman toting two of the semiautomatic weapons killed his wife, Jody,

Sigh! It's the old John Walsh, Carolyn McCarthy, Sarah Brady, MADD, MMM disease.
Something bad happened to me me me me me, therefore, everyone else's rights are to be trampled. Pathetic!

[Landru]

"You're a bit too far east. I prefer 22nd and Galena, or perhaps 20th and North."

GALENA STREET!!

Sweet Jesus yesssssss!!
Seems my mind recalls a seedy little one block street down there called, "Ruby Street," too??

I was a "Relief Manager" for the old Milwaukee Sentinel years ago & the entire inner city was my *domain*!
Can clearly recall thinking to myself, repeatedly -- at 3 am in the morning as I speedily worked my prescribed route -- "Whadda lousy place to die."

Ahhhh yes; Milwaukee memories.
Thanks, Steveegg. ;^)

My-my, how soon one forgets the high points of Milwaukee.
~& after only a mere 15 year absence, too.

Both wonderous and amazing how the human mind will protect itself, huh? :o)

A mea culpa to you, Sir.

I guess this serves as a testiment, for times just like this, the value of high technology??

...like the necessity of GPS!! {g}

[jsraggmann]

Joe: I have had no trouble at all finding "standard" capaciy mags for the AK or AR series of rifles. Shotgun News or Gunlist contains many advertizements for these mags. The AK mags are very reasonable, I've found them as cheap as $8 for new ones.

[Shooter 2.5]

Oleg does beautiful work.
I'm sorry for ranting but there was someone on another thread bragging that he doesn't belong to any gun group. The threads complaining about any gun group should be ignored but I find I can't let it go.
We have a very good chance of sunsetting the Assault Weapons Bill if we stay together and work for it. This childish bickering has to stop.

[steveegg]

In your defense, you've been gone the last 15 years. Things have been cleaned up somewhat, especially on 3rd (now MLK Jr. Dr) and North.

[Shooter 2.5]

Colt AR 20 round magazines are still 15 dollars, right?

[Joe Brower]

Yes, but when the supply has dried up -- that's it. Not good.

And try buying standard cap ("high" capacity in gunbanner lingo) magazines for semiauto pistols. The prices are in the stratosphere.

[jsraggmann]

More like $40-50 for a new one(if you can find one). I heard that these haven't been made since the Army went to 30s during Vietnam, but don't know if that's true.

[Joe Brower]

Re: Your post #25 -- yes, I saw that. A lot easier to bitch than work, isn't it? I have complaints, too, but I continue to work towards the solution, not use them as an excuse to stop.

And as far as having the 1994 AW ban sunset -- that's a rog. If everyone would just pull their own weight and do their share, we could move mountains.

We WILL win back our rights, one way or another.

[jsraggmann]

Joe: you are certainly correct about the pistol mags. However, if you are among the elite Law Enforcement Officers, you can still get 'em cheap. Orwell was right, some pigs are more equal than others!

[xsrdx]

The 1994 "crime bill" outlawed production of standard capacity magazines, limiting them to 10rds, and instituted the "evil features" provision, restricting the use of flash hiders, pistol grips, and bayonet lugs.

If it sunsets, you'll be able to buy the same stuff that's currently marked "law enforcement only", as long as its not covered by NFA provisions,ie full auto/class III.

You can buy most of it now, it's just artificially expensive.

[Dan Day]

Does the 1994 ban include the "high capacity" provision. i.e. if the ban is not re-instated in 2004, can we get our hicaps back?

100% correct.

[MrB]

try buying standard cap

I've been looking for some std (14rd) glock mags. The factory mags are in the $80-100 range. I did find some aftermarket, all plastic mags for $12. I was warned that they might jam, but I haven't had that problem at the range.
For home def, though, I keep the factory (steel lined) mag loaded.

[RicocheT]

Shooter is right. Too many who favor Second Amendment rights just gripe and don't act to support candidates who will uphold our rights.

Act means contribute, work to get them elected and once in office, write them to remind them your support stays as long as they vote correctly.

Don't sleep on your rights. If lost, we won't regain them easily. A few disarmed and scared citizens are no match for police and army, ask the German Jews of 1935, Russians living under Stalin's rule, today's Iraqis.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

that may have gotten their wish in MD today.

[ZULU]

"It's irritating that George W. said earlier he was for renewal of the act. However, I suspect he knows better than to alienate gun-owners who are his supporters and sign the renewal bill if it reaches his desk. We hope the bill is DOA in Congress."

I hope you are right, but Bush signed that idiotic campaign reform bill in the face of even less pressure than a gun control bill will generate.

Republicans - some of them - take the gun lobby for granted. Their attitude seems to be "If they don't like us, where else can they go?"

[kidao35]

My take on the "don't bother to vote, it'll just get renewed anyway" crowd.

I think some "pro-gun" people want to see the ban stay in effect. Think about all the dealers selling pre-ban M14 mags at $60+ a pop, or pre-ban AR-15s for $2k. If the ban sunsets they lose money.

I love the line about "assault weapons" unleashing hundreds of rounds in a second. The gun-grabbers try to trick the public into thinking "assault weapons" are machine guns. Truth is, a 12 gauge shotgun can spray projectiles faster than an "assault weapon".

[Ancesthntr]

If the semi-autos and the magazines that feed them are "so dangerous," why didn't they just ban them all? Why can you go out and buy the EXACT SAME GUNS that were available pre-AWB if they are so dangerous? The fact is that the cost of committing a crime with one of these weapons, if you are so inclined and don't already have them, is merely higher (assuming that you go out and honestly purchase them). Nobody is the least bit safer, and the fact is that very few "assault weapons" (as this moronic and unconstitutional piece of legislation defines them) were or are used in the commission of crimes (they aren't too concealable, among other reasons). The simple fact is that this whole law is BS, and has only benefitted those who owned a bunch of "assault weapons" and "high-capacity magazines" before the ban.

Enough of this BS. I want a new M-1A for a reasonable price, mags for it at $20, and the same for all other semi-autos. I sincerely hope that this piece of garbage law sunsets in 2004, and that the careers of those who favor it also sunset.