http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/05/14/bush.gunban/index.html
Bush keeps low profile on gun ban
From John King
CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, May 14, 2003 Posted: 12:32 PM EDT (1632 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House on Wednesday restated President Bush's support for renewing a ban on Uzis and other semiautomatic weapons, but the president is keeping a low profile on the issue.
The White House gave no indication that Bush is prepared to wage a public campaign for the legislation if House Republican leaders refuse to bring it up for a vote before the ban expires next year.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said the day before that there are not enough votes to extend the ban, and he predicted it would expire.(Full story)
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said the president's position "is clear."
But Bush's position has been relayed only through remarks by his press secretary and other spokesmen, and through communications between White House aides and congressional committees and interest groups.
The president has not mentioned it in public and has not issued written statements in his name.
That level of support stands in marked contrast to his campaign promoting his tax-cut plan and his frequent statements supporting judicial nominees whose nominations are stalled in the Senate.
Asked if Bush would mount such a public campaign to extend the gun ban, Fleischer would say only that the White House would announce plans if such events or statements were scheduled.
Other White House officials said they have not heard of any plans for Bush to provoke a fight with the GOP leadership and the National Rifle Association by publicly campaigning for the ban to be extended.
DeLay's office has said there are no plans to bring to a vote legislation that would extend the ban, which expires in September 2004.
Bush keeps low profile on gun ban
From John King
CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, May 14, 2003 Posted: 12:32 PM EDT (1632 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House on Wednesday restated President Bush's support for renewing a ban on Uzis and other semiautomatic weapons, but the president is keeping a low profile on the issue.
The White House gave no indication that Bush is prepared to wage a public campaign for the legislation if House Republican leaders refuse to bring it up for a vote before the ban expires next year.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said the day before that there are not enough votes to extend the ban, and he predicted it would expire.(Full story)
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said the president's position "is clear."
But Bush's position has been relayed only through remarks by his press secretary and other spokesmen, and through communications between White House aides and congressional committees and interest groups.
The president has not mentioned it in public and has not issued written statements in his name.
That level of support stands in marked contrast to his campaign promoting his tax-cut plan and his frequent statements supporting judicial nominees whose nominations are stalled in the Senate.
Asked if Bush would mount such a public campaign to extend the gun ban, Fleischer would say only that the White House would announce plans if such events or statements were scheduled.
Other White House officials said they have not heard of any plans for Bush to provoke a fight with the GOP leadership and the National Rifle Association by publicly campaigning for the ban to be extended.
DeLay's office has said there are no plans to bring to a vote legislation that would extend the ban, which expires in September 2004.
, Art