Posted on 04/19/2003 7:02:08 AM PDT by TLBSHOW
Feinstein and Schumer Welcome President Bush's Support of Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization
- Seek to Work with President to Swiftly Reauthorize Ban, Close Clip-Importation Loophole - April 16, 2003
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) welcomed the announcement that President George W. Bush supports the reauthorization of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, which is set to expire in 2004.
In an article published this weekend, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law."
Senators Feinstein and Schumer, authors of the original assault weapons legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives, will introduce legislation to reauthorize the ban shortly after Congress returns from recess. The legislation would:
Reauthorize the prohibition on manufacture, transfer, and possession military-style assault weapons, while protecting hunting rifles and other firearms. Close the clip-importation loophole, which prohibits the sale of domestically produced high-capacity ammunition magazines, but allows foreign companies to continue to bring them into the country by the millions.
Preserve the right of police officers and other law enforcement officials to use and obtain newly manufactured semi-automatic assault weapons.
In a letter to President Bush, the Senators wrote: "As the original authors of the Assault Weapons Ban in the Senate and the House, we strongly believe that military-style assault weapons have no place on America's streets and should be banned. In 1994, we fought hard to win passage of the original ban, and shortly after Congress returns from the spring recess we plan to introduce legislation that would reauthorize it.
This is why we were pleased to see that your spokesman Scott McClellan reiterated your support for the ban and its reauthorization this weekend when he said, 'The president supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law.'
We welcome your support and look forward to working with you to gain swift passage of this legislation. The current ban is due to expire in September 2004 and in order to continue to keep these weapons off the streets, it is imperative that the reauthorization bill becomes law.
As part of the reauthorization, we also plan to include language to close a loophole in the 1994 law, which prohibits the domestic manufacture of high-capacity ammunition magazines, but allows foreign companies to continue sending them to this country by the millions. A measure that would have closed this loophole passed the House and Senate in 1999 by wide margins, but got bottled up in a larger conference due to an unrelated provision. You indicated your support for closing this loophole during the 2000 presidential campaign, and now, with your help, we can prevent the manufacture and importation of all high-capacity clips and drums.
Once again, thank you for your leadership on this matter. With your assistance, we will be able to pass legislation to continue the ban and help make America's streets safer."
For the millionth time this will be fought in the House, where the 2nd Amendment actually matters the most, local congressional elctions.
In 99 Schumer and Feinstein passed thru a gun control after Columbine, the House passed a different bill with the help of 45 rural democrats and the Feinstein/Schumer bill died in conference.
The President can fend off demo and media attacks that he is a hostage to the gun lobby in an election year and Congressmen can say they protected the 2nd amendment in the 2004 election.
I know, I know, people will bring up CFR, but CFR is totally different, CFR was a feel good issue that actually blew up in the demo's faces since it turned off their tap of soft money and the latest reports have the Pubbies having a 4 to 1 advantage in fund raising and, IMHO, the most vile part of CFR(ad bans) will be thrown out before the 2004 elections.
You can go on with your chest thumping and simplistic rants Todd.
And if he is not convinced.......?
You betcha, Annie. What good are rules if they change every quarter or inning? The Constitution must not change just because our society has become increasingly lazy, stupid, and perverse. The principles of liberty never go out of date, regardless of how technology causes our society to evolve.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Yep and the place to do that is in the House, where the 2nd amendment actually can sway a congressional election.
No body here wants to vote in a liberal to office. If Bush signs this, he sure as hell isn't a "conservative". If our Rights will not be respected by either liberals or conservatives... then we no longer have the bragging right to he moniker "Free'est country in the world".
From that point... soap box... ballot box... cartridge box.
IOW, a statement made by a one issue malcontennt who refuses to look through the legislative machinations, but thinks he/she is so cool being a malcontent keyboard commando.
Say, Mr. President, you're in great company there. /sarcasm
Not official freep plans, but my advice is to phone and write a snail mail letter to your congressman. Also if you have a demo congresmman, don't think the matter as a lost cause, especially if you are in a red state.
Yes.
Re-signs the AWB.
Can't get a decent tax cut through without doubling the size of government
anti-USA PATRIOT Act and it's more evil twin in part II. Neither of which have sunset clauses.
Farm Bill.
Border Policy.
Before the war talk went into high gear, there was Bush's stance on welfare benefits for illegal aliens.
Are you SURE Bush is a real "conservative"? The only thing right he has done so far is telling the UN to take a hike and going after Saddam.
They just never imagined that technology would allow the governmemt to have more advanced weapons than the people.
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