Will this further damage the Dems?

[PABuck_HNTR]

Can the renewed push for the gun bills this year hurt the Democrats even more. And can GW Bush capitalize by not signing the renewal of Clinton's Assult Ban?



Gun control reappears as political issue
2/3/2004, from The Hill


"Gun control -- a divisive issue that has lain dormant so far in the political campaign -- will likely come to the fore as the Senate prepares for a series of contentious votes next month.

'2004 is going to be the biggest year in the gun-safety debate since the Brady Bill passed, and there is going to be a lot of pressure on Congress to pass responsible legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of criminals,' said Deborah Barron, a spokeswoman for Americans for Gun Safety (AGS), a leading gun-control group.

'This is an election year, and Democrats and Republicans are going to be held responsible for these issues,' she added.
The most likely showdown will occur over a bill that would shield gun makers from civil-liability lawsuits stemming from to gun violence. Slated for Senate debate the first week of March, the bill has strong backing and will likely pass by a comfortable, filibuster-proof margin.

But gun-control advocates hope to capitalize on the measure's popularity by tacking on controversial amendments, including a provision sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would require background checks for all gun sales at gun shows.

The most contentious effort, however, will be attempts by Democrats to extend the assault-weapons ban, enacted in 1994 and set to expire this year.

'The Clinton gun ban expires on Sept. 13th,' Chuck Cunningham of the National Rifle Association (NRA) noted. 'We hope to wake up on Sept. 14th and see this thing's a footnote in history and the further dismantling of the Clinton legacy.'

Democrats have written two bills that seek to renew the ban on assault weapons.
One, sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), would extend the ban for another 10 years but is far more sweeping in the types of guns it outlaws. Another, written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), outlaws the sale of fewer weapons but extends the ban permanently."

You can read the complete story at:
http://www.thehill.com/news/020304/guns.aspx

[MattInNH]

I don't think this is going to be much of a divisive issue, mainly because Bush has said that he supports the Feinstein bill.

[strut]

The demmies ain't got the guts to stand for how they really believe on gun issues so I don't think you will hear much out of them on gun-control, unless they happen to get their man in office then watch out, gunlaws galore, kerry will make clinton look like an amatuer when it comes to the anti-gun agenda.

[James B]

The ageing population is going to hurt the liberal cause of gun control. The older people in this country grew up with guns and are not about to give them up now. The liberals dare not anger one of the biggest blocks of voters. Older people like their guns and older people vote in the highest no per group of anyone.

[Briman]

The ageing population is going to hurt the liberal cause of gun control

Better yet, the FDR era folks who will only vote for democrats no matter what they stand for, are dying off in droves.[>:]

[CalHunter]

Yes and yes.

[Tazman]

As cal said, Yes and yes!

[Deleted User]

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[strut]

The Republicans will be reponsible for whatever legislation is passed.

You are exactly right, so lets just see how much anti-gun legislation is passed then we can pass judgement.

BTW have you ever thought about what all was passed by the previous administration? If not you need to.

Ifferd, which democrats is it that you say are so pro-gun, just give me their names and I will post for you their voting record on gun issues.

[Deleted User]

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