Posted on 08/20/2019 6:19:34 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
Rep. Pete King is the first Republican to sign on to the assault weapons ban
WASHINGTON — An assault weapons ban that Democratic leaders have been reluctant to advance despite strong support among their rank-and-file members in the House just got its first Republican backer — Long Island Rep. Pete King.
“They are weapons of mass slaughter,” King said shortly after his backing became public on Congress’ website Monday.
“I don’t see any need for them in everyday society,” King said.
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 was rolled out in February by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), with 190 other Democrats onboard. An additional 11 lawmakers signed on after mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, left dozens of people dead and many more injured, with King being among the most recent.
King had been the lead sponsor of a bill improving background checks when Republicans controlled the House and was already one of a handful of Republicans backing that bill now.
[More Politics] Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib call for end to U.S. aid to Israel, question country’s label as ‘ally’ after Trump-influenced travel ban » He had already been considering the assault weapons ban, but the shootings in Ohio and Texas raised the level of urgency.
"I think the assault weapons ban is timely now, especially in view of the shooting in El Paso and Dayton," King said.
Democratic leaders, however, have chosen to focus on background check legislation that already passed the House. Sources have told the Daily News that the leaders think they can best pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on background checks because public support for them hovers around 90% and better. But they are also concerned that moderate Democrats in swing districts would face a backlash for backing a weapons ban, and are unlikely to pursue one unless they believe it is certain to get 218 votes — the number required to assure passage.
King stepping forward could encourage other Republicans to do so and prod Democrats in districts that have partisan makeups similar to King’s district, which leans only slightly Republican.
"It might give cover to some other Republicans, it might give some incentive to Democrats," King said of his move.
Cicilline, a vice chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, hailed King.
“These weapons belong on the battlefield, not in our homes, schools, houses of worship or workplaces," he said. "I’m pleased that Congressman King has joined this effort. I sincerely hope that more of my Republicans colleagues will put their service to our country and the safety of their constituents ahead of their need to raise campaign money from the gun lobby.”
Some other Republicans who have not signed on but have expressed support for the ban include Florida Rep. Brian Mast, who came out in favor of a ban after the Parkland High School slaughter last year, and Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, who said he supports one after the massacre in his Dayton district.
The step forward on an assault weapons ban came as President Trump seemed to ease away from his pledge after the Ohio and Texas shootings to create "very meaningful background checks.”
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday before boarding Air Force One, he only said he was waiting for Congress to report back to him on new ideas. “They’ll come in from Democrats and Republicans. And I’ll look at it very strongly,” Trump said. "But just remember, we already have a lot of background checks. OK?”
The new background check bills would close loopholes that skip checks in private sales and would extend deadlines for federal authorities to conduct checks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump for his softening rhetoric.
“We’ve seen this movie before: President Trump, feeling public pressure in the immediate aftermath of a horrible shooting, talks about doing something meaningful to address gun violence, but inevitably, he backtracks in response to pressure from the NRA and the hard-right," Schumer said. "These retreats from President Trump are not only disappointing but also heartbreaking, particularly for the families of the victims of gun violence."
Schumer continues to insist that proceed with the background check bills from the House.
"The way forward is for Senator McConnell to put the bipartisan House-passed universal background checks bill on the Senate floor for a vote immediately,” he said.
McConnell has tasked some of his Senate committee chairmen with coming up with legislation when Congress returns from the August recess after Labor Day.
So, I guess King really is stupid after all.
Great! Start by disarming gangs and thugs first.
Overthrowing a tyrannical government is an exceptional act and not a part of everyday society.
Try it and our homes, schools, houses of worship or workplaces become the battlefield.
“We need to ban assault weapons”
“How do you define ‘assault weapon’?”
“I don’t know but we need to ban them”
Has anybody really thought about how a ban would be implemented?
Have they planned for the resulting CWII?
They won’t be happy until they start a shooting war in this country.
The Republicans were always going to betray us. They just want the goodies without actually having to stand up for anything. They’re just trying to hang on a little longer as the states turn Blue. The Republicans could have stopped this many years ago but chose, or were paid, not to. Your future is watching drunken Mestizos drive down main street while the police are arresting you for comments you made on Facebook.
Good post. I thought there was a past ban on guns like AR-15s etc. and it failed. Or am I wrong?
It is inevitable in every society. Or, you can choose death or subjugation. Our founders made provisions, because they knew it.
We are entering a new stage of repression.
Wasn’t this guy the IRAs bag man awhile back
Only an ignorant politician would use the term "assault rifle" to target the very specific type of weapon hated by the loony left.
But, make no mistake, they will ultimately get around to your black powder rifle. First things first.
Stupid? Maybe, maybe not. He is a New Yorker who is used to not having any Second Amendment rights, just like President Trump. So they both are conditioned to accept limitations on our rights as "normal."
He just needs to be 'educated' in what freedoms really are.
They are semiautomatic rifles, or long guns, you ignorant, pandering jerk. You are such a ride-the-political-wave prostitute, Representative King.
“I don’t see any need for them in everyday society,” King said.
Since when does HE decide what I need or don’t need. I should be making that choice and not him.
My best guess is that there are over 50 Million weapons that would fall into this fake category.
Has anybody really thought about how a ban would be implemented?
Have they planned for the resulting CWII?
add the many millions (tens of millions?) that will be flying off the racks in the next few months... complete rifles all the way to stripped lowers, etc.
There was a ban on the sale. It accomplished nothing and I think the liberals gave up on it because it was a “compromise”. They wanted confiscation. It’s really not reasonable to say “These guns are dangerous, only good for killing mass amounts of people and we aren’t safe while they are around but you can keep one if you already have it”.
Back when California drafted their first AW ban, they included lever action rifles in the group to be banned.
Such an uproar was made the bill was shelved.
Then California released Pat Purdy from a mental institution, allowed him to buy a gun passing the waiting periods.
Then he shot up the Stockton school, killing himself.
The shelved bill was pulled out and passed before opposition could be mounted against it.
“”I think the assault weapons ban is timely now, especially in view of the shooting in El Paso and Dayton,” King said.”
An AR-15 is not an assault weapon. An M-16 is. What we are starting to see is the AR-15 being labeled as an an “AR-15 Style rifle.” Watch the newscasts. This started a couple of weeks ago.
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