Bush Ducks for Cover as NRA Opens Fire on Assault Weapons Ban - Huffington

[Khephra]

Attention al-Qaida sleeper cells, domestic terrorists, school shooters, David Koresh wannabes and bloodthirsty lunatics everywhere: Be sure to mark Sept. 13 in your day planners because — thanks to President Bush and his GOP pals in Congress — your murderous missions are about to get a whole lot easier.

You see, that’s the day the 10-year old federal ban on assault weapons is set to expire, making it perfectly legal to buy, sell and own a whole new line of domestically produced rapid-fire killing machines.

You heard me right: Unless something changes in a hurry, combat-ready weapons like the AK-47, the Uzi and the TEC-9 assault pistol — weaponry designed to mow down large numbers of people as efficiently as possible — could once again be flooding the American market. And thanks to the gaping loopholes in our gun laws, everyone from disgruntled teens to Osama bin Laden’s henchmen will be able to legally obtain this kind of ferocious firepower at gun shows without even having to undergo a background check. It could be cash-and-carry mayhem.

After the U.S. Army toppled the Taliban, our soldiers found an al-Qaida training manual that included an entire section lauding the ease with which prospective terrorists in the United States could legally stock up on assault weapons, “preferably an AK-47 or variations.”

It was “Jihad for Dummies” — but it’s our leaders who are acting like idiots.

more..........

http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/column.php?id=719

[galadrium]

1. I don't want to sound like a RWer but....

This ban has no effect on automatic weapons, which are already banned by a previous law.

The only versions of the AK-47, Uzi, and Tec-9 that will be available are semi-automatic versions... which are already available anyway.

[DarkPhenyx]

3. Which is why the ban should be renewed...

...and then ammended to give it actual teeth and effect.

Just my opinion.

[Gman]

6. I'm not anti-gun either but

I just don't like giving the RW anything to celebrate regardless of what it is.

[northzax]

14. and for 50 bucks, I'll sell you a conversion kit

that you can use in your very own garage to make them fully auto.

[galadrium]

21. which would be illegal as hell......

Even after the ban expires

[Frangible]

19. Why is supporting the "bill of rights" sounding like a RWer?

Thomas Jefferson, founder of the democratic party, was a staunch advocate of gun rights.

Democrats fought for the right to keep and bear arms before the Republican party ever existed.

The fact so many have lost sight of that now saddens me.

[galadrium]

20. I am probably very pro gun for a liberal

[Retired AF Dem]

2. Ignorance is bliss

You need to come on down to the gungeon and learn a few things. :)

[DarkPhenyx]

4. Except they don't actually teach anything there.

For the most part it's people with a gun fetish spouting the same crap in order to defend the lust for weapons they really don't ahve a viable need for. Sad but true.

[Retired AF Dem]

5. He might learn

that the man everyone loves to hate here old Ronald himself banned the transfer of all automatic weapons made after 86. (the real assault rifles) The so called assault rifle ban was really a cosmetic ban. The same rifles that were banned in 94 has always been on the street, just missing a bayonet lug or two.

[DarkPhenyx]

8. Like I said.

Re-new that ban then strengthen it. Make it harsher, and actually have it ban more of the weapons we really don't need.

Yes, Ron did that. I for one have never said that he was all bad.

You can't use the "multiple laws" argument. We have a lot of places where he have overlapping laws. Civil Rights is a prime example of this. It's a non-issue and something that is a desperate move on the part of the pro-gun lobby.

I take it by your alias that you are a one issue voter.

[Retired AF Dem]

12. I take it by your alias that you are a one issue voter.

Not at all. Just a joke someone suggested once. Only thing I have been a one issue voter about is not voting republican for the 35 years I have been over voting age.

[DarkPhenyx]

13. Too bad.

The Republicans have some good ideas too. As do the Greens, the Socialists, and most of the other parties. None of the voices should be silenced or ignored.

Unlike assault weapons which have no use in the civilian populace and should not be available.

[Frangible]

17. They have many uses

And suggesting otherwise isn't honest.

[DarkPhenyx]

22. So besides military and law enforcement

what other uses are there that can't be equally or better served by other firearms or means? Home defense isn't one, BTW. Don't even try that one. It's far too easy to shoot down. I'd rather have a challenge.

[Tim4319]

7. Why do people need assault rifles anyway?

Whether they're automatic or semi-automatic, what is the reason to own an assault rifle?

[DarkPhenyx]

9. The point is they don't.

Not even for home defense. You'll never get them to admit it though. Just like you can't get many of the RW crowd to admit we were snookered into going into Iraq.

[luaneryder]

10. They don't need them

they just want them and argue their right to bear arms. Assault rifles are for one purpose-assault. The so called semi-autos take a small enhancement to become fully auto.

[Frangible]

16. What a poor argument

Need? You *need* food, water, and shelter. You don't *need* the freedom of speech. You don't *need* a trial by jury. You don't *need* the right to keep and bear arms. You don't *need* electricity or a computer.

[shaolinmonkey]

11. Deer and squirrels are very, very dangerous.

You really need to pump about 100 rounds into them. Sheesh.

My grandfather was an avid hunter. I have no problem with hunters, hunting rifles, etc. That said, assault weapons really serve no purpose to society. If the point is to keep a weapon to defend yourself from a government run amok, I've got news: the government has stealth bombers, napalm and tanks. You think a freakin' AK will save us? Not likely.

[Frangible]

15. Why not?

The AK worked in Vietnam, Moghidishu, North Korea, Iraq...

Assault weapons serve many puposes to society. Collecting, shooting sports, self defense, hunting (yes, it's possible, despite what some people ignorant of hunting think they know about hunting), etc.

Bottomline -- it's guaranteed by the second amendment, and is most definately not a republican issue. It's an issue of freedom, and you're either supportive of the bill of rights or a fascist.

[Frangible]

18. There are many reasons to own one...

Such as collecting, competition shooting (the AR-15 is regarded as one of the most accurate semi-autos made), hunting (yes, you can do it, contrary to popular myth), self-defense (we DO still have that right), etc.

They are rarely used in crime and there is no reason to forbid the ownership of them.

Really, what purpose does banning irrelevant cosmetics serve?

How many people got killed by drive-by bayonetings? None?

This is a useless law that creates a dangerous precedent in restricting personal freedoms for no good reason at all.