http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6960824&page=1

The Ban Expired in 2004 During the Bush Administration.

By JASON RYAN
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2009

The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.

"As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons," Holder told reporters.

Holder said that putting the ban back in place would not only be a positive move by the United States, it would help cut down on the flow of guns going across the border into Mexico, which is struggling with heavy violence among drug cartels along the border.

"I think that will have a positive impact in Mexico, at a minimum." Holder said at a news conference on the arrest of more than 700 people in a drug enforcement crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating in the U.S.

[snip]

Well, golly, if that's the only change that'll be just swell.

Like heck it is. Drip, drip, drip ...

But....he wasn't going to take our guns away and respected the 2nd amendment.......

If you are a gun owner and voted for Obama, turn your 12 gauge assault weapon in fool!

SIN CITY NEWS: The Politics Of Ugly Guns...

So, Mr. Holder, the new Attorney General, has announced a push to re-instate the so-called "Assault Weapons Ban" of 1994, which expired in 2004. He was immediately and publicly countered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said, and I quote, "I think we need to enforce the laws we now have".

What this exchange indicates is that, regardless of her faults, Ms. Pelosi is not politically tone-deaf, nor is she ideologically suicidal. It also indicates that Mr. Holder is a fucking retard.

What Ms. Pelosi realizes, and Mr. Holder does not, is that the 1994 "assault weapons ban" had many effects, and not one of these was its intended one:

- It had no measurable effect on the national crime rate, as measured by the FBI;
- It banned NO weapons...it only banned cosmetic features of some sporting firearms;
- It caused the membership of the National Rifle Association to increase by approximately one million;
- It played a major role in the loss of Congress by the Democrat party;
- It caused Democratic losses across the entire country, especially in the South and West;
- It effectively split a reliable Democratic voting bloc, that being blue-collar union voters who, despite liking the Democrats on economic matters, still wanted to keep their guns.

What Ms.Pelosi sees is a large number of newly-elected Southern Democrats who WILL lose their jobs if they even consider supporting a gun ban. Likewise, some Western Democrats. These legislators will not vote for such a ban under any circumstances. She also sees the oh-so-vital union vote, which President Obama found so vital to his election, shattering as union voters who are also NRA members desert the Democrat party. Also, she doesn't particularly like the idea of a reinvigorated NRA, with nearly five million members, gunning for all the scalps they can find.

Very recent, and Democratically-painful history has shown in graphic detail that banning ANY class of firearm has severe electoral consequences. As bad as the Republican Party has been recently (and it HAS been a farce), they have at least been consistent on the gun issue. They have listened to the voters. Many races have turned on this one issue.

Whatever Ms. Pelosi personally believes, she has a responsibility to maintain her Party's dominance. VERY recent history has shown her that trying to ban guns, or trying to ban "Ugly Guns", results in her Party getting the shitcan.

Therefore, Marv Hisself, me, expects that any initiative to ban so-called "assault weapons" will die an unlamented, painful death in Congress, with the only vocal carping coming from "safe" anti-gunners like Dianne Fienstein and Barbara Boxer.

Of course, I could always be wrong. So, get off your computer right now, head off to the gun shop or gun show, and grab all the hi-cap mags, folding stocks, flash suppressors, pistol grips, and semi-automatic rifles you can squeeze into a credit card balance as you can. Pay off that lapsed NRA membership. Grab an extra range membership. STIMULATE at least ONE sector of the economy!

And, store all the ammo you can get...you really never know.

I agree, Marv. If I can find the money for it, another handgun is in my future.

I plan to buy a Sig .40 in the next few months, and hit the next gun show to stock up on ammo. This kind of thing really gets my blood boiling, even though California still has an "assault" weapon ban.

Aww, it's kawaii!

Jebus, that's fugly!

I have enough handguns, but I was missing an AR15 type from my "collection".

I have a Ruger Mini-14 in .223, but I never really liked the round, except for varmints, so I went with an A4 in 7.62X51 (also shoots .308, which some folks think is the same, but not really, as there is a .005 difference in the headspace).

I get to shoot commercial .308 and if necessary, NATO standard, and to heck with 55 or 62 grain 'lil boolets...150 grain or bigger.

I put a Mepro21 (If it's good enough for the IDF, it's good enough for me) Day/Night Illuminated Sight on the picatinny rail along with the requisite laser, flashlight, and front handgrip and I promise, there's nothing pink on it.

It is not an assault weapon...well, it could be, in much the same manner that a beanbag can be an assault weapon if used as such, but I'm tired of explaining that concept to macaroons...they can KMA.

^What he said.


I think this administration has already done that...if the many new faces I see at the range and the people I see at the gun shop, I frequent, who are buying all the high cap weapons is any indicator....



Funny thing...when I was customizing my A4, my wife came out to the shop, looked at it and asked if I expected anything to happen.

My answer was that I truly didn't know, and that I hoped not, but if the music started, I didn't want to be the one looking for a chair when it stopped.

No such thing as too much fuel or ammo on board...unless you're on fire