Bayh has already said he supports it. From a friend of mine:
Dear Mr. balenger:
Thank you for your letter concerning the reauthorization of the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
I can tell, although you seem to disregard them as fast as you welcome them.
The primary purpose of any gun control legislation must be to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals or juveniles.
Since it is already illegal for either of these groups to own firearms, the AWB of '94 is already exceeding your own criteria. But don't let that stop you...
Throughout my public life, I have opposed legislation that fails to appropriately balance the need to maintain a safe society with the ability of law-abiding Americans to own and use firearms responsibly.
Since the AR-15 and M-1a are both valued by target shooters, you have again failed to meet your own criteria. What now?
I have always supported the second amendment and have opposed efforts to impose burdensome regulations on gun-owners.
Can you please list for me what burdensome regulations you have opposed? Since you seem to think the 2nd Amendment discusses a priveledge and not a right, which burdens do you deem allowable to my rights?
I believe that tough and effective enforcement of existing firearms laws is the best way to save lives.
Which is why you continue to support new ones? I don't get it...
As you may know, the Assault Weapons Ban passed as part of the 1994 Crime Bill. This legislation prohibited the manufacture, transfer or possession of 19 specifically named assault weapons, all semi-automatic rifles and pistols that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least two features outlined by the statute, and all large-feeding ammunition devices. The Assault Weapons Ban will expire after September 14, 2004 unless Congress and the President approve the reauthorization of the law before this date.
Thanks for the review. As you may know, that's why I wrote you...
On March 2, 2004, the Assault Weapons Ban was offered as an amendment to S. 1805, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. While the Assault Weapons Ban amendment passed, with my support, S. 1805 did not pass the Senate. While reasonable people can disagree about the effectiveness of the Assault Weapons Ban, in the post-September 11th world, I believe that it is most prudent to err on the side of caution.
A few things: What evidence do you have statistically of the evidence of the AWB? So we can reasonably disagree that is? The other thing is that it is pretty low for you to somehow equivocate lawful gun owners with the perpetrators of the 9/11 atrocities. Finally, why would you seek to prevent lawful gun owners like myself from having the most effective firearms possible in that same post-Sept. 11th world? You make little sense, sir...
Thank you for taking the time to advise me on this important matter. I value your input and hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with me.
Well, let me share this thought: you must not care very much about me or my vote...
Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope that the information that I have provided is helpful.
It was an opinion, no information. Why don't you send me something, anything from the FBI's UCR showing any correlation between the AWB and crime rates?
My website,
http://bayh.senate.gov, can provide additional details about legislation and state projects, and you can also sign up to receive my monthly e-newsletter, The Bayh Bulletin, by clicking on the link at the top of my homepage. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues important to you.
I'll keep telling you and it seems like you'll keep sending me form letters telling me where to stick it. why can't you get on the right side of this issue? self defense is a basic human right, now a political football...
Best wishes,
Evan Bayh
United States Senator
Thanks for patronizing me. What about getting me the empirical data I asked for, since surely you wouldn't have an opinion and voting record with no basis? Regards, Mark Balenger
Indianapolis
