Assault Weapons Ban Picks Up GOP Support

Yahoo! News ^ | Tue, Feb 24, 2004 | AP

[yonif]

WASHINGTON - Three Republican senators agreed Tuesday to support renewal of the soon-to-expire assault weapons ban, a small victory for gun control proponents as the Senate prepares to wade into several contentious gun issues this election year.

The GOP-controlled Senate plans to take up legislation Wednesday that would immunize gun manufacturers and distributors from lawsuits that arise from crimes in which guns were used.

Senate Republicans have enough votes to approve the legislation. Democrats plan to force votes on at least two other gun issues they want to attach to it, however, amendments to renew the assault weapons ban and to require background checks for all purchasers at gun shows.

Gun rights groups plan to urge majority Republicans to defeat both measures. The GOP-controlled House already has said it does not plan to approve the extension of the assault weapons ban.

"To protect the future of America's millions of gun owners, it is vital that the Senate pass (the lawsuits immunization bill) without any antigun amendments," the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action said on its Web site.

The White House also urged the Senate to pass the legislation without amendments.

"The administration urges the Senate to pass a clean bill, in order to ensure enactment of the legislation this year," the White House said in a statement. "Any amendment that would delay enactment of the bill beyond this year is unacceptable."

Getting the 1994 assault weapons prohibition renewed has been a Democratic priority this year. They picked up support Tuesday from GOP Sens. John Warner of Virginia, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island.

"Although I voted against the ban a decade ago, over the past 10 years it has reduced crime dramatically and has made our streets safer," Warner said. "The legislation also has protected the rights of gun owners better than many of us predicted."

The three GOP senators' support does not guarantee the amendment's approval in the Senate, but "this gives the effort to renew the assault weapons ban new momentum," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a sponsor of the original assault weapons ban.

Republicans, along with several Senate Democrats, have been pushing for the gun immunity legislation for some time. Gun advocates say firearm makers shouldn't be forced to spend millions of dollars fighting off lawsuits designed to win large rewards and bankrupt them for making legal products.

"The manufacturer or seller of a legal, nondefective product should not be held liable for the criminal or unlawful misuse of that product by others," the White House said.

Democrats like Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota agreed to get behind the legislation after gun supporters accepted a specification that firearms manufacturers and distributors would not be protected from lawsuits that involved defective products or illegal sales.

___

The bill number is S. 1805.

On the Net:

Bill text: http://thomas.loc.gov

[looscnnn]

"or jack up the prices of guns as has happened with the cigarette industry."

Problem is that the liability bill does not protect against this. They can just tack on taxes ala cigs/gas/alcohol to drive the prices up.

[yarddog]

BTW, it was really MMM (Marion Michael Morrison) who shot you.

[looscnnn]

I think your view of what will happen to the bills is probably the most likely senario.

[Liberty Valance]

lol - God Bless John Wayne!

[xsrdx]

NRA Anti-AWB Website

SUNSET THE AW BAN

[TigersEye]

let the sentors know how you stand on this issue. Call them and or email

Let 'em do their own recon.

[yarddog]

My Grandmother was a Morrison.

I once visited the Clan Morrison booth at the Grandfather Mountain highland games and learned that John Wayne was a member of the Clan. I have since seen that his real name was Morrison several times.

[looscnnn]

Confucious say: "To extend is to not extend. To not extend is to extend."

[looscnnn]

"All we have to do is get a good pro Rtkba congressman to add an amendment like a complete ban on abortion and maybe that would do the trick"

I would put a rider on that would do the exact same thing, but with automobiles. Watch what would happen then. Say that because of drunk drivers and criminal use of autos, the rider is necessary. When they say I can't do that, I will say that owning vehicles and driving are not rights so I can do it.

[looscnnn]

"The AWB is dead, folks."

You really think so? I have news for you, the Dems will not let it. They will put it as a rider on the gun industry bill.

"The only question is, will the gun manufacturers liability bill be passed?"

That is also a question that we can't truely answer, too many variables.

[petro45acp]

"Although I voted against the ban a decade ago, over the past 10 years it has reduced crime dramatically and has made our streets safer," Warner said. "The legislation also has protected the rights of gun owners better than many of us predicted." Senator John Warner (R-ino) VA

This explains the answer I got today when I called his office. "The senator hasn't taken a position yet." My ass.

I am tired of being incrementally criminalized. If I'm to become a felon, I'll go as a lion and not a lamb.


In fact, the UCR states that the weapons banned by this heinous legislation account for a low, "statistically insignificant" number of total criminal uses.


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[looscnnn]

"got your back...and I dont even know were you live...just a voice in the wind"

Same here.

[Teacher317]

This doesn't have a chance in the House

Neither did CFR... hmmmmm.

[looscnnn]

-.-- --- ..- / --. --- - / - .... .- - / .-. .. --. .... - --..-- / -... .-. --- .-.-.-

Oooo, are we playing hangman? Umm, is there an A?

[TXBSAFH]

I have already called both of my senators today and explained that I do not want to see the AWB renewed. I will be writing a letter to my rep today also.

[templar]

Maybe they figure more votes will be won then lost?

Maybe they figure no votes will be lost and some will be gained? Republicans always line up to vote for the "lesser of evils" in my experience, and some antigun moderates will be persuaded to the Republican side of things by the AWB passage.

[templar]

Can we trust the committee to do that?

No.

Never trust a conference comittee with anything important. Too little accountability.

[looscnnn]

"No.

Never trust a conference comittee with anything important. Too little accountability."

I thought so, but looks like others do.

[Space Wrangler]

Renewal of the AWB results in a Kerry presidency. I will not vote in November if this thing gets passed. Bush and the pubbies will lose way more votes then they can possibly gain. Do they not realize that they could very well lose their base with this move?

[Triple]

RINOS?

Not to put to fine a point on it, but the leader of the republican party also supports the extension of the AWB.

It (extending AWB) might as well be a plank in the republican party platform.

Regards,