Bush Backs Renewing Assault Weapons Ban

Washington Post ^ | April 12, 2003 | Unknown

[Teacher317]

Well gee, domestically Bush has a strong house but a mushy middle Senate. You want him to act like a dictator.

Vetoing a single, unCOnstiututional bill is NOT acting like a dictator... it's in his job description, Dane!

Like I said in 99, Feinstein and Schumer pushed through a draconian gun bill through the Senate at the height of Clinton's popularity, it died in the House, the same will probably will happen here.

Let's hope so... but once again, that was what we said about CFR, and we got stabbed in the back there, too. The problem is that he is promising to do it to us... again!

Like I said, why don't you study up on the present political realities instead of flagellating yoursel over being "betrayed".

Well, you're right, it isn't betrayal when he keeps his (ill-advised and short-sighted) promise. He's betraying his oath of office, not his campaign promises. Oddly enough, you apparently think that this is the better choice, because political posturing is more important to you than Constitutional principles. Happily, I feel that the opposite is true... and I'm very glad that you are on the other side of this issue. That's usually a good sign.

[Shooter 2.5]

"They are useful idiots that provide some benefits."

That's pretty surprising since you take every opportunity to slam them. Did you just get the card so you could carry it in your wallet or do you actually take the time to make sure your reps are doing what you want? Did you vote in the annual elections?

Do you take the time out of your busy schedule to make sure the organization works the way you want it to?

[Atlas Sneezed]

"If algore had been in the presidency they would have set the bill of rights aside by emergency executive order in what would be called protective custody, for the brief period of the war on terrorism."

And Congress would fight it, as would most gun owners.

Better to start the war to restore the Constitution than having another frog-boiler in ovffice.

[sinkspur]

It would be a shame if President Bush lost many of the 4.1 million NRA votes in a close election.

He won't. He might lose a few, but he'll pick up a few, too.

There aren't many Americans who walk around pre-occupied with the assault weapons ban, other than a few here.

[sargon]

Look, American Politics is/should be about finding the middle ground that suits the population as a whole.

WHAT???? The Least Common Denominator of Freedom?

Nay. That's democracy, not a Constitutional Republic which protects individual rights.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...All private ownership of firarms would be suspended as a national security threat to the governemtn forces...

Then we would have our reckoning.

[The Coopster]

Out of context alert!

I was talking about us. Did you even read the post, or just skim and reply?

[Teacher317]

I would suspect them of printing this out to watch the fun as the Freepers and conservatives tear into each other. And it looks like it worked.

Well, since this verified by looking at his campaign promises, and usually we're very happy that this is a man who keeps his word, it's hard to imagine that it is untrue. Heck, it's not even worded as slantedly as the WP's usual!

[lainie]

It's not basing all voting decisions on one issue. President Bush is the one who would be basing a lot on one issue. Ask yourself why he would support a bill reauthorizing this atrocity. Didn't Feinswine write it in the first place? He's basically saying Feinswine and Kennedy and Daschle were right in 1994? 'We really can't trust the people with evil flash suppressors and heinous standard capacity magazines.'

To me it isn't even about the Constitution. It's about the peoples' liberty. And the president knows this better than we do.

[The Coopster]

Well, I will grant you that your definition is correct. But the reality is that that is the only way that you'll get around hardcore partisans on the left, and single-issue voters on the right.

[The Coopster]

It's not basing all voting decisions on one issue.

It is on this thread.....

[VRWC_minion]

Q Back on the sniper situation, a top-ranking NRA has been noted as saying before that guns don't kill people, people kill people. Where does that statement fall in the midst of this sniper attack that is now classified as a form of terror? And also, if the President is not for the McCarthy proposal, what about another proposal to stiffen gun -- background checks for gun control?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President does believe that there can be changes in the law that are effective in combating crime, and that's why the President has supported an expansion of the instant background check system. That's why he has supported an increase in the minimum age at which somebody can own a handgun from 18 to 21. That's why he supports a semi-automatic assault weapons ban for juveniles. He supports volunteer child safety locks on handguns, as well as he has supported a ban on importation of high-capacity ammunition clips. Not all of these are positions popular with the NRA. The President took those positions because he thinks they're the right thing to do.

[chnsmok]

My single issue is the constitution. If that is stupid, so be it. I will vote for someone "on my side". Not out of context.

[Dane]

The Bush Legacy:
Permanent Assault Weapons Ban.
Patriot Act.
Campaign Finance Reform.
Steel Subsidies.
Increased federal education budget.

Oops you forgot some, Putting the kibosh on Kyoto and the International Court
Actually showing that the UN is totally irrelevant
Proposing a major tax cut
Will sign a PBA ban
Will sign a bill protecting the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits
Has gotten rid of the Taliban and saddam
Pushing for drilling in ANWAR

And on and on. Yep you are hopeless malcontnent in my book.

Oh BTW about the Patriot act, two conservatives(David Keene and Grover Norquist) put the kibosh to a proposal that would let local law enforcement pick up illegal aliens and they are in bed with the devil, the ACLU, on the Patriot Act.

[havegunwillcarry]

Bush almost lost the election because of his moderate stances - would've been a landslide if he ran like Reagan. Looks like he'll lose the next one. Likeable guy, but I just don't vote for moderates. Period.

[Teacher317]

Okay, but he's betting that the difference will be less than a 540 vote swing. Don't come crying to us when the unthinkable happens.

(By the way, I'd like to note that in my conservative circles at school just last week, several right-leaning students surprised me when they said, during some good war news, that they thought GWB probably wouldn't be re-elected. I, usually the activist Rightie among them, was shocked, and discussed how unrealistic that outcome was. Now, if he was already having the mushy supporters quavering last week, and he's losing some of us radical Constitutionalists and some of the single-issue gun folks, and the fact that he has increased the budget by a huge rate, and that he has passed CFR and the gun ban, and the fact the the Dems will cheat like CRAZY in 2004, you have to start thinking that there's real trouble afoot.)

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Why would I want a man selecting judges who had no respect for the constitution?

Let him first show that he does, by sunsetting this obnoxious bill, then he may deserve reelection.

[lainie]

Look, American Politics is/should be about finding the middle ground that suits the population as a whole.

Democracy is where 51% of the people can outlaw coffee for the greater good. Isn't what you described called being a moderate?

[Shooter 2.5]

I would have to say it is true. The timing of this is suspect and I suppose the left is diggin around to find something they want us to dislike about Bush.

If he signs this, I think I still have to vote for him. I'll hold my nose but I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it never reaches his desk.

I'm not one to make things worse in the hopes that things will get better. I spent too many years in the repair business to believe you can take a sledgehammer to something in order to make it work.

We have to start sending those letters and phone calls.

[lainie]

I'm not 'single-issue gun folk.' It's just the line in the sand.