President Bush, we put you in office, don't let us down!

[Combat-wombat]

This is not new news, but just a reminder to take action.
I am very fed up with President Bush and his support for the assault weapons ban. He originally came into the presidential race NOT supporting the ban, but it looks as it he is changing his mind to get the votes of soccer moms. If he renews the ban, he may get the support of soccer moms, but not ours. Contact the White House and tell them that if the ban is renewed, you will not vote for Bush in '04. This is very important, we don't want to spend the next 10 years, or in the case of HR 2038, possibly the rest of our lives fighting for out rights. If a new ban is enacted, it will be extremely hard to go back. Fight for your freedoms, now!

 

[PrudentGT]

Hate to burst your bubble there, but one of his campaign planks was that he *did* support renewal. Since the liberals control the language ("assault weapons"), his political advisors probably wanted to avoid offending "moderates," which are probably acutually "left-of-moderate." Frankly I think they're all hoping the house and senate will have the cajones to let it die, and then the issue will be moot. I'm hoping the same thing. Come on 922(r) compliant, collapsible stock, flash suppressor-equipped Sig 551!! (FYI I'll be out of California by Sept. '04)

 

[Boats]

Hate to burst your bubble, but the only way you'll get your hands on that SIG for anywhere near a reasonable price is if it comes out of the SIG factory in New Hampshire in 2004-5 or it gets enough "American content" to get around the '89 import ban if the AWB dies.

 

[Tamara]

...of course, the '89 Import Ban was a mere executive order, right? Could be rescinded just as easily as it was signed, then.

I'm not, however, holding my breath...

 

[Combat-wombat]

oh, there was a website on 2000 election issues and it said Bush said no to the AW ban.

 

[Boats]

Well Tam, (can I even call you "Tam?") I think there may be an opening to repeal the '89 exec order if two things happen. First the AWB has to go, and then a lame duck GWB just has to get the stones to say, "what is the point of this import ban now that the others are legal?" Lame ducks tend to pay back better than first termers, especially on exec orders.

An interesting other way I thought of today would be if the domestic AWB dies, that Daewoo, Beretta, HK, SIG, SAKO/Valmet, Steyr and Izmash get together and challenge the '89 import restriction as an unfair trade barrier by petitioning the World Trade Organization. Maybe the Bush administration would then be forced to rescind it.

However, I am not even going to inhale for the breath to hold waiting on that approach.

 

[Tamara]

Combat-Wombat,

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27941

Pre-election discussion on the topic...

 

[Nightfall]

Contact the White House and tell them that if the ban is renewed, you will not vote for Bush in '04.

Already have.

...of course, the '89 Import Ban was a mere executive order, right?

I loath the fact that any one person in this country has the power to ban an entire class of firearm... with the mere stroke of a pen.

 

[answerguy]

I loath the fact that any one person in this country has the power to ban an entire class of firearm... with the mere stroke of a pen.

Do you think US manufacturers had any problem with the import ban then or now? Most companies don't dislike a little protectionism when it's on this side of the pond.

 

[Marko Kloos]

I loath the fact that any one person in this country has the power to ban an entire class of firearm... with the mere stroke of a pen.

What bugs me even more is that the EO in question was issued by a Republican, not a Democrat. Bush The Elder made sure that you can't get a decent HK91 for under $2000 these days. What was that again about Republicans being pro-gun?

Now we have a Republican-controlled House and Senate, and a Republican in the White House. I've asked this before....what kind of mythical constellation do the stars have to take before we see some pro-gun legislation out of the Republicans?

And the supporters of these jackasses have the gall to tell me that I am wasting my vote by voting Libertarian...

President Bush, we put you in office, don't let us down!

Don't fret...the Republicans in general, and the Bushs in particular, have a long history of selling out gun owners to appease the vocal "moderates". The Republicans know that gun owners will flock to the polls like lemmings and pull the lever with the elephant on it without fail, because "we're a little less bad than the other guys, and after all...where else are they going to go?"

 

[bjengs]

Now we have a Republican-controlled House and Senate, and a Republican in the White House. I've asked this before....what kind of mythical constellation do the stars have to take before we see some pro-gun legislation out of the Republicans?

And the supporters of these jackasses have the gall to tell me that I am wasting my vote by voting Libertarian...

Well said. Look at all the drama and hand-wringing that goes around in the RKBA community these days just for the Repubs to mount some sort of effort to defeat a gun control bill...let alone introduce some pro-gun legislation of their own...let alone REPEAL ANYTHING.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Lendsringer, I don't think it's as much a matter of Republicans taking us for granted as it is a matter of Republicans being afraid of of polls. Both parties watch the numbers closely, but the Repub's are always afraid that if they don't give away the store, their poll numbers are going to drop. I just don't think they're used to being in power and they don't know how to project that power effectively.

So, they give away the store.

 

[PrudentGT]

Dayuuum, never thought I'd spark so much debate with that last bit. I was referring to this. I assume they'll add the 'evil features' in a post-AWB world. See? Contrary to appearances, I know a thing or two about what I'm doing.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've been disappointed in the Republicrat party for quite a few years.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Actually, there is no 1989 Executive Order that bans the importation of certain firearms. Bush (41) merely directed ATF to review the criteria for importing firearms. ATF suspended the importation of certain "assault type rifles" on March 14, 1989 and created " The ATF Working Group on the Importability of Certain Semiautomatic Rifles."

On April 5, 1989, this list was expanded to cover "similar" firearms, pending the Group's decision. On July 6, 1989, ATF released their report which essentially made the list permanent.

The justification for this ban was the "generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes" language from the GCA '68.

The only thing that is needed to remove these restrictions is for the Director of ATF to have the "criteria" changed.

 

[Tamara]

Interesting stuff for those that think the repeal of the AWB will get them the G36 or SIG 550 of their dreams.

Remember: the Republicrats are your Pro-Gun friends!


...one thing that we do know about these assault weapons is that they are invariably equipped with unjustifiably large magazines. The notorious AKS - 47, for example, comes with a magazine that pumps off 30 explosive bullets without reloading. And that is why ... we stand on the steps here in front of the Capitol and ask its support for legislation prohibiting the importation, manufacture, sale, or transfer of these insidious gun magazines of more than 15 rounds. -George Bush

 

[David Park]

Tamara, thanks for posting that link. I'm glad some of those recommendations didn't actually become law!


P.S. - Where can I buy some of those explosive bullets?