NRA Launches Anti-AWB Website

NRA Institute for Legislative Action ^ | 1/23/04 | NRA-ILA

[Ancesthntr]

The people who say they won't vote for Bush if he signs the bill probably never voted for him in the first place. They couldn't have been that active for their Second Amendment Rights or they would have known what he said and when he said it.

I voted for GWB, knowing full well what he said - that he was "in favor of the current law" or words to that effect. I took it to mean that he was in favor of ALL of the then-current law, including the part about it expiring on 9/13/04. Certain noises from his administration have convinced me that if a renewal of the AWB shows up on GWB's desk, he'll sign it. So let ME make myself very clear:

If I wake up on 9/14/2004 and I am not able to purchase everything gun-related that I could buy prior to 9/13/1994 without worrying about some member of the BATFE arresting me or worse, then I will NOT be voting for President Bush less than 2 months later, as I did in November 2000. PERIOD!!!!

[Shooter 2.5]

And you missed the part where he said he would sign it if it reached his desk? How did that happen?

How did all these so-called Second Amendment Activists somehow miss something so important? You weren't discussing this at the campaign headquarters? No one mentioned at the Grassroots meetings?

[Dead Corpse]

Northeast? Northeast my ass. McCain is from Arizona isn't he?

[kcar]

If Bush signs this, esp post 9-11, and post endless number of other compromises and exorbitant spending, I'd be in a real quandary. I certainly wouldn't automatically vote for any Republican. Would waver on voting LIbertarian for life. Or Constitution Party if that gets rolling. But the quandary would be for the Presidency itself. Could I really not vote for the Commander and Chief during wartime?

Is there any hope for a filibuster that doesn't allow this to get to him?

[blackie]

I emailed my congresscritters.

The Second Amendment ~~
America's Original Homeland Security!

[Dead Corpse]

President Bush: Here's what I believe, sir. I believe law-abiding citizens ought to be allowed to protect themselves and their families. I believe that we ought to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them. That's why I'm for instant background checks at gun shows. I'm for trigger locks. I think that makes sense. Matter of fact, we distributed free trigger locks in the state of Texas, so that people can get them and put them on their guns, to make their guns more safe. I think we ought to raise the age at which juveniles can have a gun.

But I also believe strongly that we need to enforce laws on the books, that the best way to make sure that we keep our society safe and secure is to hold people accountable for -- for breaking the law. If we catch somebody illegally selling a gun, there needs to be a consequence. If we keep -- somebody, you know, illegally using a gun, there needs to be a consequence, enforcement of the law. And the federal government can help.

There's a great program called Project Exile in Richmond, Virginia, where they focused federal taxpayers money and federal prosecutors and went after people who were illegally using guns. To me that's how you make society the safest it can be, and so, yes, sometimes I agree with some of these groups in Washington and sometimes I don't. I'm a pretty independent thinker. But one thing I'm for is a safe society, and I'm for enforcing laws on the books, and that's what's going to happen should I earn your confidence.

Waffle, waffle. Trigger locks? Raising the age to own guns? Don't you already have to be 18 to legally own a gun? 21 for handguns and "assault weapons? WTF??? Add in the statements made on the Presidents behalf by Scott and Ari, yas... Bush would most certainly resign the AWB in any ofrm that makes it to his desk.

[Dead Corpse]

BTW, Bush qoute comes from the Third Presidential Debate of the 2000 election. He was asked what he thought of the Brady Law. Here's the link.

[Ancesthntr]

Are you certain that Bush wouldn't sign a renewal? Where is there an unequivocal public statement by him or one of his authorized spokesmen that he won't sign it? Maybe I've missed that one, too? But I didn't miss what his assistant press secretary said - which was never withdrawn or contradicted.

I only hope that Tom DeLay has the guts to keep this thing bottled up in committee forever - if not, the RINOs will cave and this thing WILL be on Bush's desk...and the man has NEVER yet vetoed a bill.

[Ancesthntr]

Could I really not vote for the Commander and Chief during wartime?

Does the political luck of being in office during wartime exempt a person from the usual scrutiny that voters give him or her? I think not.

On the flip side, the only other realistic choice besides Bush will probably be Kerry or Edwards, and neither of them (nor the other assorted fruits and nuts running for the Democrapic nomination) gives me any confidence at all regarding the conduct of the WOT. "Quandary" is the right word. I certainly won't vote AGAINST Bush, but I am strongly inclined not to vote FOR him if the AWB is renewed.

[kcar]

If what you say is true, that this would be a permanent measure, I am inclined to not vote for Bush should he sign the renewal. But jeez, how could he dare twist that knife into the heart of his base?

[Brian Allen]

Thank you.

[Dead Corpse]

But jeez, how could he dare twist that knife into the heart of his base?

He can, because...Who else are you going to vote for?

[Ancesthntr]

But jeez, how could he dare twist that knife into the heart of his base?

That's what I don't understand, either - especially when gunowners put him over the top in Arkansas, TN and WV, the loss of any of which would have us discussing the reelection chances of President Al Gore.

The only thing that I can think of is that Bush and/or his political advisors don't think that it would hurt him as much as it would help him. I think that this is utterly false (not to mention a stab in the back, but that's a different matter). The gun vote can be broken down into 5 groups: 1) Those that care passionately about gun rights and who will vote single issue on it; 2) those who favor gun rights, but who have many issues that they consider more important; 3) those who couldn't care less; 4) those against gun rights, but who have many issues that they consider more important; and 5) those that are passionately anti-gun and who will vote single issue on it. The only 2 groups that matter are #1 and #5 - the others will vote whichever way they vote no matter what Bush does on guns. The only question is: which of #1 and #5 are larger? I'd suggest that #1 is, by a large margin. Further, who are the people in #5 going to vote for ANYWAY - Bush, who's nominally pro-gun or a Dem who's got a lifelong record of being anti-gun? Thus, the issue is a total loser for Bush if he signs any AWB renewal.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Only took them 9 years to get on board.

[Ancesthntr]

He can, because...Who else are you going to vote for?

Uh, let's see, uh (scratches head, clears throat)...NO ONE!

[RogueIsland]

Have you noticed that there have been none of these incidents since BC left office and gun control is off the table.

Well, except for that little DC sniper thing.

[Dead Corpse]

Uh, let's see, uh (scratches head, clears throat)...NO ONE!

"I don't care who does the electing, as long as I do the nominating." - "Boss" Tweed.

[Shooter 2.5]

Even though I would love to see the AWB sunsetted, I think what Bush said BEFORE THE ELECTION was politically brilliant.

He's a moderate because before that, a conservative wouldn't have been elected. He challenged the gun owners to get off the couches and give him the Congress he needed. The NRA understood that and started the AWB sunset at the last elections. We were working in the offices of the A rated Candidates so the sunset would happen. It's too late to wish for conservative candidates for the sunset now if they weren't elected back then.

[Ancesthntr]

It's too late to wish for conservative candidates for the sunset now if they weren't elected back then.

That's rather obvious - and I'm glad that the NRA tried to do something about it in 2002. If they hadn't, I might not have continued to be a member. I just hope that the NRA is dead serious about this issue, and is not willing to compromise it away in return for S. 659. I recall reading that it is, and that no such compromise will be accepted - I hope that this is true. If so, and if we win on both issues (which we should), then the NRA deserves major kudos.

[Shooter 2.5]

It's not very obvious to a lot of people. If the votes simply aren't there or we're stabbed in the back by someone on a committee, I'm not going to blame the NRA or the Republican Party. I'll only blame those individuals who caused the sunset to fail. I won't even blame Bush because I already knew where he stood, again, BEFORE THE ELECTION.