Gonzales supports renewal/new AWB

[outofbattery]

At least you know what you're getting when you vote for Democrats .

Gonzales Supports Assault Weapons Ban
Justice Nominee Answers Remaining Confirmation Questions

By Jesse J. Holland
The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 18, 2005; 2:59 PM

Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales told the Senate on Tuesday that he supports extending the expired federal assault weapons ban.

Gonzales also said he wants Congress to get rid of a requirement that would eliminate part of the Patriot Act this year, despite complaints that it is too intrusive.

"I believe the USA PATRIOT Act has greatly improved our nation's ability to detect and prevent terrorist attacks," Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee in written answers to questions left over from his confirmation hearing.

Gonzales, who served as President Bush's lawyer during his first term, is expected to be confirmed when the Senate returns after Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20. He would be the nation's first Hispanic attorney general and replace John Ashcroft.

Democrats, including Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., pressed Gonzales for written answers to several of their questions during his daylong confirmation hearing. Those answers were delivered on Tuesday to the committee, which planned a Wednesday meeting to consider nominations.

Congress let the 10-year-old assault weapons ban expire in September. The measure outlawed 19 types of military-style assault weapons, banned certain features on firearms such as bayonet mounts, and limited ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.

Gonzales pointed out that his brother Tony is a SWAT officer in Houston.

"I worry about his safety and the types of weapons he will confront on the street," Gonzales said. "The president has made it clear that he stands ready to sign a reauthorization of the federal assault weapons ban if it is sent to him by Congress. I, of course, support the president on this issue."

Antigun groups criticized Bush during the presidential campaign for failing to press for an extension of the ban.

Gonzales also said he supports the reauthorization of the Patriot Act, the post-Sept. 11 law that expanded the government's surveillance and prosecutorial powers against suspected terrorists, their associates and financiers.

More than a dozen provisions of the law are set to expire by late October 2005 unless renewed by Congress. These include authority for judges to issue search warrants that apply nationwide, authority for FBI and criminal investigators to share information about terrorism cases, and the FBI's power to obtain records in terrorism-related cases from businesses and other entities, including libraries.

"I believe the sunsets that apply to several provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act should be repealed," Gonzales said.

Opponents have called the law intrusive and contend that letting the FBI get library records undermines civil liberties and threatens to let the government snoop into the reading habits of innocent Americans.

Gonzales says people have misunderstood what parts of the Patriot Act does. "I am unaware of abuses under the USA PATRIOT Act," he said. "For this reason, I welcome an honest and real debate."

Gonzales said he is willing to consider tempering that part of the law.

The statute says business and library records must be "sought for" a terrorism investigation. Opponents have claimed that means the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court -- the secret court that approves surveillance and wiretaps for espionage and terrorism cases -- had no choice about whether to grant the subpoena.

"I would be happy for the statute to be amended to state the investigators may ask the FISA court for an order requesting the production of documents 'relevant to' an ongoing foreign intelligence investigation," Gonzales said.

-- -- --

On the Net:

Senate Judiciary Committee: http://judiciary.senate.gov

AP-ES-01-18-05 1435EST

 

[TheEgg]

Typical of spineless Republicans. As soon as they get elected they stab their best friends in the back.

Not much difference any more between Repugs and Democrats. :banghead:

I guess the next four years will be a LITTLE better for gun-rights than under a kerry administration, but we must always be on guard. Remember that the underlying imperative for government, any government, is to increase its power at the expense of the people.

 

[mec]

very likely, since he doesnt have a record on the matter, he said it just to close down a whole line of abuse to Ted Kennedy. Rather he hadn't said it but it may not mean a lot.

On the other hand, if the quote is right, Conde Rice calls herself a Second Amendment Absolutist- meaning she believes in an armed citizenry.

 

[lostone1413]

I voted for GWB but I can't believe anyone thinks he is pro 2nd amendment. He didn't push for the Renewal of the AWB but you can bet the farm he will sign any anti gun bills that get to his desk. Like I said he didn't push for the AWB but anyone see him with the balls to come out and say he is against it??????????

 

[brian roberts]

elections.....

it bears repeating......we only ever get to vote for....the "best of the worst."
i don't know where gonzales is getting steamed up about library records for, hell, the FIB doesn't even HAVE to get a warrant for library records. ALL library records are computerized now, which means No Such Agency at ft. meade, can waltz through the records at will, & "....they never even know we're there...." neat, hunh???? and no one, but NO ONE ever mentions the most secret agency any more, the National Reconnaissance Office(NRO).

 

[vito]

I can't recall a single candidate for President in the 40 (yes 40!) years that I have been voting who was truly a 2nd Amendment supporter. Most of our national leaders come from the same slices of society whether Democrat or Republican. The best we can do is vote for the lesser of evils. I was surprised, however, at how quickly Gonzales tried to align himself with the anti-gun crowd. For what its worth, I wrote the Republican National Committee that despite my donations in every election since 1980, I will no longer give a penny for a candidate who won't firmly stand up for my Constitutional right to bear arms. I think I'll be saving money for the foreseeable future.

 

[Walter]

2nd Amendment

I can't speak to what Alberto Gonzales might or might not do if he is
appointed U.S Attorney General. And I don't know what President Bush
really thinks about the AWB, because I haven't heard him say.

I do know this about GWB's record as Governor of Texas. He immediately signed a "Concealed-Carry" bill when it was passed by the Texas legislature. After that,'Shall-Issue, Concealed Carry License' became the law of the land in Texas.

The previous Texas governor, Ann Richards, had twice vetoed the same bill.
It is my opinion that GWB was elected Governor of Texas becaused he promised
to sign any bill allowing "concealed-carry licensing". And I also believe he was
re-elected just because he signed the "concealed-carry" bill.

You might be surprised at how popular the idea of "totin' a gun" is in Texas.

Walter

 

[Nalapombu]

I think Bush would sign any gun control bill that crossed his desk. Remember we are talking about the same guy that had absolutely no qualms at all about signing the Campaign Finance Law that infringed on the FIRST amendment.
You have to look at what he and Rove are attempting to do. They are trying to systematically dismantle the democRATic party by taking away every one of their pet issues. Gun control would just be another one that he could take away from them if he were able.
Our fate doesn;t fare too much better in the Senate either. That's the biggest bunch of cowardly pukes I have ever seen. Our only hope in this never ending war on our freedom is in the House of Reps and Tom "The Hammer" Delay. He is all that's standing in the way of new and more restrictive gun control legislation.

Nala