Posted on 08/19/2004 10:21:25 AM PDT by 45Auto
It's about the politicaly smartest position Bush could take. I don't know whether it is intentionaly smart or it just works out that way. By saying he would sign the ban if it came to his desk, he wins points with the "soccer mom" crowd.... who, out of ignorance, believe it somehow makes thier kids safer. But Bush knows it isn't going to get to his desk ....therefore he doesn't have to loose points with us gun owners. He's not actively pushing it and he's not actively opposing it...he's just letting it whither on the vine. That's a savvy position. The real test will be to see what happens next year.
Everyone credits the Republican wins in the '90's with the institution of this ban.
No matter how the Liberal Dems or Liberal Republicans feel about the ban, they risk a backlash if they support its extension in an election year. There is no way to know how severe the backlash would be, but do they want to risk the potential will equal the '90's protest or exceed it?
We'll find out.
Those in the "gun culture" are the single largest "swing vote" out there as Bush the Elder got to find out.
The only thing this issue can do is lose votes for Bush, if the renewal bill makes it to his desk and he signs it. I repeat, this is the only thing that renewing the Assault Weapons Ban can do for Republicans.
I just hope that they know it, and don't imagine they can pull off some idiotic "triangulation" move.
If the ban sunsets, Bush will get the NRA's endorsement. They're just holding their cards close to the vest for now.
It is practically KILLING the gun grabbers to lose his battle. I wouldn't put it past them to arm some deranged lunatic with an "assault weapon" and turn him loose on the streets just to drum up more support.
And either not up for re-election or not likely to be defeated.
Yeah, right. One only has to luck at the Republican supporters of this crap, all from usual lib locales, the Maine girls, the New England and Midwest Girlymen, give me a break.
I think that Bush will have to come out with some sort of statement about his support for the 2nd Amendment before he gets the endorsement of the NRA. Maybe sometning like:
"During the past ten years, there was absolutely no change in crime that could even remotely attributed to the Assault Weapon Ban. Even before that, statistics show that assault weapons WERE NOT the preferred weapon of choice by criminals and were used in less than 1/10 of 1% of all violent crimes,
The vast majority of gun owners, well over 99%, are good law-abiding, hard working, citizens who are conscientious about the safety of their family, their neighbors, and their country. Prohibiting the ownership of a gun that is functionally no different from many guns over 100 years old will do nothing to deter crime but will unnessarily infringe upon their right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.
For these reasons, it is my belief that there is no need to renew the Assault Weapon ban."
The GOP has been commandeered by all sorts of partially reformed liberals, opportunistic political slime and the paid minions of global money monders. The whole two party system has become a corrupt criminal enterprise.
Waiting until September 14 to put a Bush/Chaney sticker on the truck. It looks like I may be able to do that but it ain't over 'til it's over.
As Rogue Island said above, I'm much more worried how a "lame duck" Bush will hose us when he can no longer be punished by gun owners. We could get something far worse than the current ban. AWB 2 is clearly a large step to total confiscatory bans that the UN craves.
I figured The Beltway snipers using the Bushmaster would have been enough; notice how fast the main stream commie press dropped the whole issue when they found out the guys who did it were a Black Muslim and his butt boy instead of some crazy, rednecked white supremacist? If anything the fact that these guys had sympathy with MOOOslim Terrorists, and that the random sniping was right out of the Al-queda playbook, was a lesson that maybe, just maybe, a well-armed citizenry was a good idea. That's why the commies don't bring the episode up as a 'poster child' for gun control.
Yea, we already know how much the Bush kid's old man loves the UN and the kids don't seem to be independent thinkers.
Republican voters feel more strongly about this issue than the open borders idiocy.
Another reason for this incident not getting traction with the anti-gunners is that the rifle used was undoubtedly a post-ban gun. It was probably missing a bayonet lug, a flash suppressor, a grenade launcher, and a collapsible stock. It probably had a pistol grip.
The anti-gunners could have found themselves having to explain how the AWB failed to regulate what they are claiming justified the law. Further, they would have to explain how relevant the military features and appearance of a rifle fired from hiding in single-shot mode would contribute to the sniper's success. There has never been a hunting rifle made that would not have been just as effective.
Then they discovered repeating shotguns, etc., were also on the list. Then they got excited.
The gun grabbers are following their mother ship's (i.e., the former Soviet Union) protocol, viz., expansion in stages.
That's why we oppose gun laws.
thanks for the ping.
BTTT!
Even the Democrats are running from this issue now- why would republicans touch it.
Oh yeah. That is the truth. Needs to be repeated.
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