Assault Weapons Ban and Obama

[Zwetschgen]

Hey,

The guys I work with and other people that I discuss it with seem to be in agreement that (should Obama get into the White House) he may sign a similar Assault Weapon Ban that Bush did not renew. We have all discussed how it is a good chance something like that might happen. What do you all think? Is the Assault Weapons Ban of '94 dead, and a new bill will need to be proposed? Just curious.

 

[General Geoff]

he may sign a similar Assault Weapon Ban that Bush did not renew.

Bush said he'd have signed a renewal too, if it got to his desk. I don't see what the difference is.

 

[Starship1st]

I heard on the Neal Bortz show a comment that even Democrats are afraid to bring up a ban on assault weapons because of the political fire storm?

But we still need to be ready that such a bill might come up again. I am buying everything I can and ammo.

 

[hso]

Both Obama and Bush said they'd sign an AWB if they came across the Oval Office desk.

Let's make sure that the members of Congress understand that the current SCOUTS decision makes lining up behind such a looser of an idea more foolish than it was last month.

 

[HK G3]

Didn't McCain say he'd sign an AWB if it came across his desk as well? Or am I confusing him with Bush?

 

[El Tejon]

What do you all think? Is the Assault Weapons Ban of '94 dead, and a new bill will need to be proposed? Just curious.

Is this a legislative procedure question? Does your buddy think that a ban is just floating out in the penumbra and a President rules by decree?

Don't you remember Schoolhouse Rock?

How legislation is made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

 

[alistaire]

Only half the gun-grabbers have gotten the message, and they will forget it as soon as they get into office. Governor Ed Rendel (PA) and Mayor Michael Nutter (Philadelphia) are in office and ranting about banning evil guns.

 

[FCFC]

Both Obama and Bush said they'd sign an AWB if they came across the Oval Office desk.

They're passing the buck. Politically, they think, it is better to say that if Congress passes the bill, it is the will of the people.... or some such.

Let's make sure that the members of Congress understand that the current SCOUTS decision makes lining up behind such a looser of an idea more foolish than it was last month.

Agreed.

This is where the legislative lobbying strategies of the NRA over the last few decades pay dividends. The long term mood of Congress is to be very temperate about gun regulation. If any legislator wants to propose really severe regulation, he knows he might very well be targeted for, um, competition in the the next election.

Witness the Democratic presidential nomination campaign. All the top candidates, including Obama and Clinton, offered only weak positions on gun issues.

The anti regulators, except in relatively isolated situations (NYC, NJ, etc.), are cowed.

And Heller is about to slap laggards like Richie Daley and Michael Bloomberg upside the head. There'll be no more banning stuff for a lonnnnnnggggg time.

 

[Golden Hound]

Theoretically, couldn't a politician who was nearing the end of his political career and wanting to retire or something, who had "nothing to lose" and didn't need to worry about getting re-elected, propose an Assault Weapons Ban? I think if they came to Obama's desk, he'd sign them so fast he'd go through a case of pens.

 

[General Geoff]

Yes but AWBs are proposed yearly already. They never get out of committee.

 

[USSR]

Bush said he'd have signed a renewal too, if it got to his desk. I don't see what the difference is.

Big difference. Bush KNEW it would never reach his desk. Hey, tell you what, I'll give you $1,000 if you come to my house in the next 5 minutes. See how it works?

Don

 

[The_Shootist]

Nod

Also, isn't there a phrase in the recent Heller ruling about the 2A being an individual right which defines "weapons commonly in use".

Well I own an AK (without the happy switch of course), as well as a significant number of my fellow shooters owing AR's/AK's likely making these "common use" weapons due to numbers in circulation.

Witness what happened to Jim Zumbo - tell me there aren't enough of these firearms in circulation.

So thats pretty close to making them almost protected - like handguns - in the recent ruling. At least enough so to give pause to legislators who KNOW a fresh AWB will be challanged all the way down the line. I'm willing to bet standard cap mags - being common use - would be protected as well.

At the end of the day, as noted in posts above, what would drive consideration of "common use" weapons are the number of angry phone calls /(written/faxed) letters to legislators, underlying their "common use" .

Most of the public is pretty apathetic on this topic - so a dedicated / motivated block of voters (gunowners) can get peoples attention quick.

 

[Animal Mother]

HK G3 Wrote:

Didn't McCain say he'd sign an AWB if it came across his desk as well? Or am I confusing him with Bush?

McCain said this at a recent speech:

I have defended my position on protecting our Second Amendment rights, including my votes against waiting periods, bans on the so-called "assault weapons," and illegitimate lawsuits targeting gun manufacturers.

You can read more about his stances at this page: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/77636553-6337-4ecd-b170-49e1c07d2fbd.htm

 

[Pilot]

Big difference. Bush KNEW it would never reach his desk. Hey, tell you what, I'll give you $1,000 if you come to my house in the next 5 minutes. See how it works?

Bingo! That's how politics work including on the SCOTUS. The four dissenting voters knew the score before the vote and knew they would loose. Do you think some just dissented to keep their liberal fans happy knowing that Heller would win anyway? This happens in Congress all the time. The deals are made before the vote ever takes place.

 

[MD_Willington]

HR 6257 Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2008

Introduced June 12, 2008...

They snuck this one in.


HR 1022, more restrictive, is not really going anywhere this year. Still had 66 co sponsors.

Stay vigilant!

 

[Big45]

Wow, Obama's name is even in the thread title and this isn't political?

 

[ArmedBear]

There is little rational basis for assuming anything about what Obama would do, other than that he's a lifelong left-winger. He has few ideas of his own, and never has had any. He's a machine politician, and not much of an ideologue; he will do whatever he thinks will get him votes from his party, consequences be damned. That's all his "record" indicates.

He'll do whatever he believes will bring him power. What he cares about: Barack Obama.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/06/020849.php

 

[scurtis_34471]

Didn't McCain say he'd sign an AWB if it came across his desk as well? Or am I confusing him with Bush?

McCain didn't vote for the last one and said he would not sign a new one.

Obama would sign one, but I'm hoping the Democrats aren't stupid enough to pass one. It would be politically suicidal for any southern Democrat to vote for such a thing and the same goes for dems from many mid-west and mountain states.

That said, I'm stocking up now.

 

[Onmilo]

I hoping the Heller decision will put this on hold up on Congressional Hill.

We may not see it again until after the election.
If A Dem gets in I doubt the majority will allow it to cross the executive desk because, as stated, it would be possible political suicide since a good portion of the majority made their way to office based on their pro-gun stances.

If a Republican gets in, the Dems could sail it to his desk for a signature and lay all the blame on the Repubs if it is signed.

McCain isn't that stupid either.

 

[DSAPT9]

Honestly I think some of our politicians have stock in the various firearms companies. Every time they say Assault weapon ban all my friends buy more Mags, parts and firearms boosting their stock prices. Also if I read the Heller case correctly the reason they could not ban handguns it is the most common firearm used for home defense. Is not currently the AK and AR now the most common rifle kept for defense of the home and meeting the Militia aspect of the ruling as well?

There are more manufactures of these firearms now than ever in history and more owners. I feel it would be a tough sell to say it is not a common firearm used for home defense and hunting.

 

[Solo Flyer]

Didn't McCain say he'd sign an AWB if it came across his desk as well? Or am I confusing him with Bush?

McCain has always voted against any AWB.His problem firearm's wise is his fixation on closing the non-existent "gun show loophole".
You'd think a man of intelligence would understand that.
But then there's Campaign Finance Reform.
Maybe not so much intellect after all.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think Obama will actively seek a new AWB. My sense is that McCain will be a bit more passive on the issue.

Obama would outlaw handguns except for LEOs and military. That is pretty anti-gun to me.

 

[Crunker1337]

IIRC, Obama said that he wanted to ban the sale and transport of all semiautomatics. But don't quote me on it.

NVM, he does.
http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm

 

[guntotinguy]

Didn't McCain say he'd sign an AWB if it came across his desk as well? Or am I confusing him with Bush?

I think Obama will actively seek a new AWB. My sense is that McCain will be a bit more passive on the issue.

Obama would outlaw handguns except for LEOs and military. That is pretty anti-gun to me.

I would vote for McCain,but not because I trust him any further than Obama,more so because 'I believe he 'gets the point' aside from the talks with the NRA,and so on...Either way,perhaps the best thing to do now,is a show of 'purchases' on assault weapons,by the American people...you know..to 'send a message' of the 2A.

 

[S&Wfan]

Right now, both candidates MUST rush to the center and be "Centrists" in order to win the vote.

HOWEVER . . .

Come January of next year, they return to their "core values" . . . and begin the task of doing the will of their financial backers and allies.

So, vote for the candidate who you feel best represents YOUR core values.

Right now . . . they are going after the votes of the STEW-PID folks who don't research and dig to find what a man stands for and who that man's silent backers are.

One of the candidates has the most liberal-rated voting record in the Senate and is the darling of one of the most oppressive gun control states in the Union. His staunchest and earliest backers from that state, in his meteoric rise, are NOT on the side of the NRA or on the side of honest gun enthusiasts around the nation.

T.