For Sensible Gun Safety (BARF ALERT)

The Washington Post ^ | February 25, 2004 | Masthead Editorial

[neverdem]

FOR THE FIRST time in years, the Senate is to vote on gun safety measures that lawmakers in both parties and gun owners everywhere can and should support as common-sense anti-crime measures. The first is renewal of the current ban on certain assault weapons -- weapons needed by no one except criminals. The other is the closing of a big bull's-eye loophole that allows firearms to be sold by unlicensed sellers at gun shows without any background checks. These two vital protection proposals are being offered as amendments to a third gun-related measure that is opposed by a number of gun-control groups, and with good reason. A top priority of the National Rifle Association, this third proposal would grant firearms manufacturers civil immunity from lawsuits. It amounts to an excessively large and unnecessary special-interest shield, but if it is to pass -- as head counts indicate -- it should carry with it the two safety proposals that are needed now, not in another year or more. That is the choice being packaged, and the amendments should be kept in the mix.

The assault weapons ban, which will expire in September unless renewed, has posed no hardship on hunters, only on criminals who find the quick-firing capability handy. The renewal amendment, being advanced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John W. Warner (R-Va.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), is supported by a broad coalition of law enforcement groups, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs of Police and -- in a letter to Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) and Mr. Warner -- a long list of Virginia law enforcement authorities. Mr. Allen changed his position in 2000 to support the renewal, and if his support holds it could be pivotal.

[neverdem]

In addition to the usual suspects, it seems Warner, Allen and DeWine are useful idiots or useless.

The remainder of the editorial stated GWB is willing for another 10 year extension.

[NYCVirago]

Funny how the libs find a constitutional right to gay marriage, but they ignore the constitutional right to bear arms!

[ActionNewsBill]

Funny how the libs find a constitutional right to gay marriage, but they ignore the constitutional right to bear arms!

The assault weapons ban, which will expire in September unless renewed, has posed no hardship on hunters...

You've got it all wrong...the Second Amendment only applies to hunting.

[neverdem]

Funny how the libs find a constitutional right to gay marriage, but they ignore the constitutional right to bear arms!

I'm glad someone enjoys the humor. At the same time that gay marriage is being advocated to subvert traditional culture, mindless of its effects on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, these fools want to curtail the right of self defense.

It's a bit late now, but the number of people who die from AIDS, the majority of which acquire it through homosexual transmission in this country, is much greater than the number of folks who commit suicide with firearms, which is greater than the number of homicides by firearms, and that the justifiable homicides by civilians is 4 - 5 times greater than the police.

One of my oldest friends recently died, and I have other priorities. If I forget, please remind me as these numbers are available on the Internet.

[riverrunner]

All the anti's have on there side is lies if they ever told the truth they could not stand.

[longtermmemmory]

someone help here. I thought the AWB is dead by itself.
Feinstein is pushing for an amendment to abolish the sunset of the AWB making the AWB permanent.

There is no seperate AWB renewal and the anti-sunset rider was NOT added to the gun maker liablity bill.

A rider that is NOT in the house version BTW.

Did I miss something?

[wita]

Barf alert my royal rear end! I have only read the first two sentences, I will go back after posting this comment and continue. This is far, far worse than a barf alert, this is a full fledged double secret projectile vomit alert. I have been labeled a criminal in the second sentence, and if memory serves, and so far it still does, so have many of you. Excuse me while I go read the rest of it, but don't ask me why.

[Puppage]

the Senate is to vote on gun safety measures that lawmakers in both parties and gun owners everywhere can and should support as common-sense anti-crime measures.

ANything that doesn't keep criminals in jail, or that takes guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens does NOTHING TO STOP CRIME.

[Technogeeb]

You've got it all wrong...the Second Amendment only applies to hunting.

I suppose that could be the case; did tyrants get added to the varmint list?

[ActionNewsBill]

...did tyrants get added to the varmint list?

If not, they should be. No limit.

[Clean_Sweep]

This is how they view free Americans; "no one except criminals"

[Joe Brower]

[cruiserman]

The first is renewal of the current ban on certain assault weapons -- weapons needed by no one except criminals.

Does the Post do any research at all, or is the Ed board just a mouthpiece for the anti-gun crowd? Criminals don't favor these weapons, but lots of gun fanatics like myself do. Perhaps the Post thinks criminal means anyone who owns a gun.

[cruiserman]

Also, it misses the point that it doesn't matter what weapons are used by criminals. Why should law abiding gun owners be inconvenienced and stigmatized by what criminals do? The Post won't be happy until all gun owners are in jail and their weapons confiscated.

[Monty22]

"The first is renewal of the current ban on certain assault weapons -- weapons needed by no one except criminals. "

Keep talking that way lefty.. Alienate us. We love it.

Guess I'm a criminal to this 'person'

[Monty22]

I believe the rider IS on the bill, and the senate is going to pass it.. TODAY!

[Durus]

Our rights do not come from the constitution. Your comment is ignorant at best.

[NYCVirago]

Our rights do not come from the constitution. Your comment is ignorant at best.

Huh?

[Durus]

Funny how the libs find a constitutional right to gay marriage, but they ignore the constitutional right to bear arms! Libs "find" the constitutional right to marry, intimating that the it isn't explicitly listed in the constitution they don't have that right?

Do you think the government "gave" us the right to keep and bear arms? We had that right before there was ever any government. Do homo's need the validation of government to co-habitate with their chosen uhhh whatever, with same right that normal people have? Clearly they don't.

The more government gets involved with this issue the worse things are going to turn out.

[Travis McGee]

One of these two is going to be made into larger hi-res car stickers. Which text do you prefer?