Is It Time to Reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban?

January 18th, 2011   (548 views )

Sen. Richard Lugar pushes for assault weapons ban

Indiana U.S. Senator Richard Lugar said Monday that he will push for a renewal of the assault weapons ban.

“I believe it should be, but I recognize the fact that the politics domestically in our country with regard to this are on a different track altogether,” Mr. Lugar told Bloomberg.

The Indiana Republican is the first Republican to come out in support of renewing the ban following the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. A number of Democratic politicians have said they plan to introduce legislation aimed at increasing gun control.

New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy plans to introduce a similar piece of legislation. Ms. McCarthy says she will include a ban on extended magazine clips similar to those used by the alleged gunman.

Rep. Peter King has suggested legislation making it illegal for anyone to knowingly carrying a loaded gun within 1,000 feet of certain high-ranking public officials, including members of Congress. The proposal is not expected to pass, with Speaker John Boehner reportedly saying he will not introduce the measure.

Source:
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/sen-richard-lugar-pushes-for-assault-weapons-ban/

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: peter [Visitor]
The ban on assault weapons will not happen because of the influence of the NRA. But it should be made harder for people to buy weapons of this category. When this lunatic came in to one walmart he was refused so he secured a weapon at a second one . Just looking at his picture should have been enough to the person selling the weapon this individual was mentally ill. Therefore they would need stronger laws on background checks. But a outright ban would never go through congress.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 11:58
Comment from: GPNY [Visitor]
Richard French's bias against guns is beyond question. Fair and balanced is not in his vocabulary. Views should expect much shilling and dishonest debate from him on tonight's episode as he promotes the gun bigots agenda.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 15:09
Comment from: Jeff [Visitor] Email
I do not believe that the Assault Weapon ban should be reinstated. Statistics show that legal gun owners are actually more responsible than non gun owners(http://gunowners.org/nws9702.htm). Imposing more regulations will increase crime instead of decreasing it (http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2010/06/25/stossel-argues-gun-control-increases-crime-i-was-once-clueless-senator-schumer).
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 15:25
Comment from: NYCSTRIPES [Visitor] Email
Another BS weapon ban will not solve anything. The first Clinton ban was a failure and did not stop crime. All it accomplished was to limit the freedom of law abiding citizens.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 15:31
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
Absolutely not. The "assault weapons" ban is so incredibly flawed, logically, that it is simply an affront to law abiding citizens, and does absolutely nothing to curtail crime.

First of all, the firearms that had been - and would be again - banned under the "assault weapons" ban are, simply, NOT assault weapons. The only correct definition of "Assault Weapons" are FULLY automatic firearms; i.e. machine guns. Those types of firearms are already HIGHLY regulated by The National Firearms Act of 1934. These firearms that would fall under the ban are, instead, SEMI automatic, meaning that only one round is fired each time the trigger is pulled. The media and politicians and anti firearms organizations have adopted the term "assault weapon" to these firearms SOLELY as a scare tactic; to make them sound menacing, and therefore easier to ban. It is a clear example of poor and / or biased journalism & sensationalism.

Second, these type of firearms' internal working are EXACTLY the same as millions of "non-scary" looking hunting and target rifles. With a few modifications, any rifle can be made to "look scary", when in fact it is no more scary than the rifle that a beloved uncle or grandfather carried in the deer woods. It is time that the public was informed of this fact & that they have been misled into this childish notion of believing that if something "looks scary" then it must be evil.

Third, the ban is based on some completely ludicrous conditions, such as the ability to accept a bayonet. In reality, when in the world has there been a problem with criminals using bayonets? This is just one of the absolutely ridiculous and out-of-touch-with-reality examples worth mentioning.

Fourth, and probably most important of all to note, is that prior to the Assault Weapon Ban of 1994, ONLY 1% OF ALL FIREARMS CRIME WAS COMMITTED WITH THESE TYPES OF FIREARMS! It is simply an outright lie to have claimed that this legislation was required in order to cut down on gun-crime. And since the ban has expired, these types of firearms have increased exponentially in popularity, and gun ownership has risen to all time highs, while violent crime has actually DECREASED to a 35 year low (this is per the FBI; not my made-up numbers).


This ban is EXACTLY the type of flawed, feel-good, out-of-touch-with-reality, poorly thought out, indefensible mistakes that we have seen Congress pass time & time again. It does NOTHING that it claims to want to do, and only hurts law-abiding citizens and weakens The Second Amendment. Criminals will always find ways of hurting people, and they - being criminals - simply do not respect any laws that are created.

And it is an outrage that our politicians and media have outright misled The People of this great nation with such untruths as are found in this ban. Have they no shame? The time for THE TRUTH to be proclaimed has arrived; it has been long, long overdue.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 15:34
Comment from: Mike [Visitor] Email
First off lets set the record straight the average American cannot purchase an "assualt weapon" they are fully automatic and you have to have a special permit to poccess them. The firearms are no more than semi automatic firearms. You must squeeze the trigger for each discharge. The firearm used in AZ was a common Glock 9mm. Second, the guy in AZ is crazy, sick, mentally ill if you prefer. The government (Army) did not fulfill it's duties in notifing the FBI that the killer was a drug abuser. The college where he attended was also negligent. So before you go shrilling about banning firearms or clips or ammunition, how about we hold those government entities responsible.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 15:41
Comment from: bruzz [Visitor] Email
one nut out of a popluation of over 300 million commits a terrible crime and now we have a crisis?? we've got these grandstanding career politicians choming at the bit to screw with the 1st and 2nd amendments??? that's more scary than gun with a gun. ever listen to richard lugar?? a thomas jefferson, he ain't!!! ever listen to carolyn mccarthy speak?? do you really want these two idiots messing around with the constitution??? i'll take my chances with the nut(s).
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 15:45
Comment from: Ha [Visitor] Email
It is all too easy to convert semi-automatic weapons to full automatic, so the comments that the average person cannot purchase fully automatic weapons are misleading. Of course I cannot buy a submachine gun because of the Federal Law, but I can make an effective one by altering a semi=automatic with relative ease. In some cases just filing down a firing pin slightly. So..... your choice. The Glock 30 shot magazine was semi=automatic and look how much damage you can do with THAT.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 16:35
Comment from: Norm Winne [Visitor] Email
NOT JUST NO!!! HELL NO!!!
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 16:52
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
For the poster "Ha", that posted this set of unbelievably false statements:

"It is all too easy to convert semi-automatic weapons to full automatic, so the comments that the average person cannot purchase fully automatic weapons are misleading. Of course I cannot buy a submachine gun because of the Federal Law, but I can make an effective one by altering a semi=automatic with relative ease. In some cases just filing down a firing pin slightly. So..... your choice. The Glock 30 shot magazine was semi=automatic and look how much damage you can do with THAT."

How...in the WORLD...do you look at yourself in the mirror? You posted one of the biggest lies in the world and claimed it to be factual.

It is NOT all too easy to convert semi automatic to full automatic, especially not by filing down the firing pin in some cases.

This is one of the biggest urban legends ever concocted, and you should be ashamed of yourself for portraying it as a fact.

The BATF also does not permit manufacturing of firearm designs that "can be easily converted to full-auto".

And in either case, deliberately converting a semi-auto to full-auto is already a felony, punishable by TEN YEARS in prison. If that is not enough of a deterrant than NOTHING ever will be.

And by the way, are you admitting to having done this? I.E. have you personally "easily converted a semi-auto to a full-auto", or know someone who has? If so, then I'm sure the BATF would love to have a word with you.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 17:13
Comment from: Scott [Visitor] Email
The people using this tragedy to further their insane political motives should be themselves investigated for mental illness (they *are* a danger to themselves and others). These people have both an irrational fear of an inanimate object and a delusion that more laws would have any impact. The weapons used in this (and most other crimes) are already possessed and obtained illegally, and someone bent on murder is hardly likely to be dissuaded by one more crime they have to commit to do it.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 17:39
Comment from: John Marrinan [Visitor] Email
A assault weapons ban will not stop criminals from getting guns. Guns are illegal in Mexico, see how well a ban works there.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 17:40
Comment from: Jeremy [Visitor] Email
I can't believe we are arguing over whether or not to reinstate legislative policy that the critical lens of history has shown to be a total waste of tax payer money and completely ineffectual in achieving its desired effects.

It's a real shame that our politicians are using this tragic event to push their own political agenda by going for the easy target instead of the real problem. For example, the mental health system that failed the shooter on SEVERAL occasions?

Carolyn McCarthy is despicable and if anyone needs proof that she is a complete phony who has no clue, watch the video below. She has absolutely no idea what a barrel shroud is, but she made it a violent felony to possess one. She is a joke with zero credibility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospNRk2uM3U
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 17:41
Comment from: Luis Leon [Visitor] Email
Murder is already against the law. Why not try the novel concept of actually punishing the guilty individual. The so-called "Assault Weapons Ban" has never sunset in NYS. Hows that working out for all the murders committed in NYC? None of which involve so-called assault weapons. Carolyn McCarthy has made a career of ensuring your family is as defenseless as hers was. By making it nearly impossible for the law-abiding citizen in NYC to carry concealed.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 17:52
Comment from: Mike G [Visitor] Email
I have a strong suspicion that RNN / RF will not be taking very many comments from the board on this subject. So far, it does not quite fit their agenda
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:00
Comment from: Marty B. [Visitor] Email
A sick person committed a vile act with a gun but during the same day 250,000,000 gun owners did NOT. The assault weapon ban would not have prevented this deranged person from obtaining a handgun.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:29
Comment from: Bill Conners [Visitor]
When will our members of congress learn bans are honored only by law abiding citizens? Illegal drugs flow like rivers in the streets of this country, illegals aliens flow across our borders at will, and none of this activity is legal. Gun bans will only make the good guys more vulnerable and the bad guys more bold. If the First Amendment is so sacred, what makes the Second Amendment so expendable?
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:29
Comment from: GPNY [Visitor] Email
Caught Richard lying again. He just showed a bunch of full-autos.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:33
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
Richard French,

You are a disgusting man, if for no other reason than for not allowing us with opposing views to have a full say on your show. Everytime someone doesn't answer in a way that you agree with, you cut them off and speak for 10 minutes. You don't even know the proper terminology of the things you want to ban, for heaven's sake.

And therefore you are simply a disgusting man for these reasons alone.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:36
Comment from: Tom [Visitor]
The assault weapons ban is inherently unconstitutional. It places all long-guns into 1 of 2 categories-- those for sport (legal), and those for military purposes (illegal). It makes no provision for firearms with features appropriate for self defense, unless self defense is considered a sport, which I doubt. Some of the features, such as pistol grips, collapsible stocks, and detachable magazines, are the same features that make pistol possession constitutionally protected as an adjunct to self defense. Other feature (bayonet mount) are innocuous and not appropriate for a ban.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:37
Comment from: bill [Visitor] Email
Great try by the libs, but im afraid the ban wont pass in this congress. There are too many pro gun republicans and democrats now. Believe me, if Obama could have done it he would have, in 09.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:39
Comment from: Steven Blair [Visitor] Email · http://www.LongIslandFirearms.com
NRA-IRA EVC and President of Long Island Firearms.

First and foremost; our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of the tragic event which happened in Tucson. My feelings are if more and more law-abiding citizens were armed that day; maybe the events on this tragic day would of ended differently.

Gun violence is the only crime where the tool is the target of the legislation, never the perpetrator.

Gun control laws affect only law abiding citizens; Jared Loughner knew that shooting people was illegal yet he did it anyway. A feel good law isn't going to stop the next mentally ill shooter...neither will laws that regulate magazines, they will be violated like the laws that forbid assault, or murder. (We need to stop using the term "loophole". Jared Loughner didn't purchase his gun legally, nor did he use a loophole; he lied on his 4473 form when he said that he wasn't a user of marijuana (question 12E) the purchase was NOT legitimate.

Some may say:
Second Amendment refers to muskets, not "assault weapons", stating that the Framers of the Constitution could never have imagined the weapons available today, that argument is invalid, if it were the case, then exercising your First Amendment Rights through TV, radio, telephone, and the internet wouldn't be covered because likewise, the Framers would never have conceived of them.

What needs to be defined are the words "assault weapons" then we can move on.

Steven
www.LongIslandFirearms.com


PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:41
Comment from: Bill T [Visitor] Email
Firearm and other violence, is against the law. Our existing state and federal laws should be enforced. Proposing new legislation will not stop violence.

Legally armed citizens are a deterrent to violence and other crime. Countries that have banned weapons have not see reductions in crime.

Jeff Worley's article, In Defense of Self Defense, in Florida State University's Research in Review (Winter 2009), reviews this topic including significant research by Gary Kleck, a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

U.S citizens should review their "Gun I.Q." by reading the article and taking the simple test before taking an unfounded stance.

Luger and others should review the facts before proposing needless, grandstanding legislation. The actual facts speak for themselves.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:48
Comment from: g-man [Visitor] Email
You will never get those on the left who oppose firearms to change their minds, and maybe not those on the right, either. It isn't even so much an issue of firearms, it's more an issue of right and wrong. If someone has made up their mind that a gun is bad then they would rather go to their graves holding firm to their beliefs than admit they might have been wrong. To me, a "bad" gun is one that even when handled safely and properly, causes harm to someone. I don't think this would be an affective way to market any type of product let alone a firearm.

The pro gun collective has already made numerous concessions and what has been the result? For the most part, nothing positive so the left dreams up yet more restrictions to put on law abiding gun owners. This makes all the sense in the world because everyone knows that all illegal gun owners, who are the cause of almost all the gun related crime, gladly abide by all existing and newly created laws and regulations. Hence reintroducing the Brady Bill and any other gun control legislation is sheer brilliance!

I say we should look to repeal the existing restrictions, especially in New York. Once we have the same laws as our neighbor to the east (Vermont), then we can start looking at mandating firearm ownership for every citizen over the age of 16. Oh, that's right, by this time we've also lowered the legal age of ownership for any type of firearm (including automatics, pistols and ASSAULT WEAPONS). Next step would be lowering the age to 12.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:49
Comment from: Luis Leon [Visitor] Email
So many fools... NRA this, NRA that, they act like the NRA is a dude in a back room making deals with criminals. The NRA is YOUR fellow Americans who don't believe all the hypocrites on TV. Not once during the broadcast did French mention that the Assault Weapons Ban is still in effect in NYS. And simply ignored the FACT that you do undergo background checks before you can obtain a license, let alone a handgun. This was the most slanted piece of so-called journalism I witnessed yet. Shame on you.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:53
Comment from: Mike [Visitor] Email
What most legislators and liberals overlook (or ignore) when talking about re-instating the 1994 "Assault Weapons" Ban, is that the Columbine massacre occurred in April 1999, 5 years into the ban. Bans don't work to disarm the criminal and/or the insane, it just disarms the honest and law abiding. Criminals don't care about breaking the law to obtain an illegal weapon, they're criminals - its what they do.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 18:59
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
Luis Leon, I could not agree with you more...French basically spewed lie upon lie upon lie during this broadcast, and it is people like him who lead good Americans astray, because they don't realize that he is lying. They see someone on TV spewing "facts", and of course they believe these "facts", when in reality they are nothing but lies.

So very shameful of you, Richard. A REAL journalist would actually have a true discourse with the other side, and allow them to state their facts in clear, logical point by point statements, and then agree or disagree / debate each statement, rather than simply cut them off after 3 words, place them on mute, and spew more lies while the caller waits patiently for their three second window to retort to so many llies.

That's simply disgraceful & disgusting, Richard.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 19:03
Comment from: Moose Wesson [Visitor]
No, we don't need to reinstate the ban on assault weapons. In fact, here in New York State, the ban never sunsetted. That's right, the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban is still in effect here in NYS. Most of the states around us, also have strict rules with regards to firearm ownership. The problem, as I see it, is that the data that is already out there for the government agencies to use, is not used or not being shared. Jared Loughner should not have been able to purchase or own any dangerous weapon, not a gun, or a hammer or even a screwdriver, for that matter. But, even if he were on a list of mentally defective individuals, that information would never have been shared with proper agencies that would have been able to prevent him from having any weapons. That is the true and sad state of current affairs.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 19:08
Comment from: Rev Homer Ferreyra [Visitor] Email
Sen. Lugar & any other so called "Representative" that continue to infringe on a citizen's Constitutional & legal right to keep & bear arms should be recalled & forced to seek other employment. These people were sent to uphold the US Constitution not to take away the Citizen's rights & ignore the USC. Although, I would never suggest to anyone that violence is an available option, the US founding Fathers knew that an unarmed Citizenry would soon lead to the type of tyranny that preceded two world wars. There is a need to understand that the value of upholding the USC is more important than the restrictive purposes of these proposed laws. No, restricting the citizen's right to carry is not the answer. Perhaps what we need is an amendment to prohibit any further consideration of these Socialistic & leftist ideas.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 19:33
Comment from: Henry Miller [Visitor] Email
Semi automatic weapons have been with us for defense and hunting for a long time now, both pistol and long gun. With the millions of these in public possesion legally, the main cause of firearm deaths are from felons promoting and protecting the drug trade. The RIGHT to possess a deterrent to those who would cause us harm was given to us by our wise founding fathers, and defended by those, many of who sacrificed their lives. Ask those living in places where gangs roam freely and randomly shoot whomever they please how long it takes the police to answer an emergency call. NO INFRINGEMENT!
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 19:54
Comment from: IamWhoIam [Visitor] Email
Since the assault weapons ban did nothing in the ten years it was in force and since it has expired nothing it did do has gone wrong, I say NO.
Even Bill Clinton, who signed it into Law, said that this Bill won't do anything!
These Federal Elected Persons should Stop and Re-read the Constitution and understand the True meaning of the 2nd Am. to STOP a Gov't takeover of The People.
The People are supposed to have Military-type weapons for just this reason!
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 20:12
Comment from: josh [Visitor] Email
The AWB is not an effective piece of legislation. It bans harmless features for no reason and greatly imapacts rifle sales instead of the actual culprit of most shootings (pistols).

I would see a bill banning magazines over 15 rounds for pistols only being sometihng to consider. Instead they try ban magazines for rifles and pistols at 10 rounds, adjustable stocks, barrel shrouds, flash supressors, and whatever the hell "shoulder things that go up" that McCarthy invented.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 20:22
Comment from: Timothy Key [Visitor] Email
Absolutely no reason whatsoever to resurrect this useless piece of legislation. Not now, not ever! Please stop this nonsense now and concentrate on enforcing existing laws. Enough of the political grandstanding.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 20:45
Comment from: Gary Velez [Visitor] Email
Washington D.C. had a total weapons ban for years and D.C. still had a high crime rate.We need to address crime at the grassroots level.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 20:48
Comment from: DOUG [Visitor] Email
Great post,Josh..
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 21:26
Comment from: David P [Visitor]
Reinstating the Assault weapons ban will do nothing to make americans safer. It would not have helped Mrs. Giffords either. Assault weapons account for almost 0% of gun crime. This is just another political stunt to try and grab headlines in a vain effort to bolster political support.
PermalinkPermalink 01/18/11 @ 21:34
Comment from: Leon [Visitor]
What they are calling Assault weapons aren't all that. Maybe we should look at stores like Walmart, etc. & blame them for not having trained employees in that department. Maybe Only Gun shops should sell firearms? There are many pros & cons to this argument but the truth is; if a criminal or psycho wants to commit a crime he will find a way to do it just as this guy did. Laws only work on honest folks who believe in following the law. They have NEVER STOPPED a crime before.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 01:19
Comment from: peter macneil [Visitor] Email
Re-instate? First off, the federal gov. can and will do anything it wants to.Can you say -Homeland security? There have been enough instances where the we the sheeple should have stood up and said no more. But, we didn't and they know we won't. Because nobody want's to be first. If we don't hurry up and take control of this vicious dog we've raised and now are afraid of, it will just keep biting and attacking the hands that feed it. Politician want us resricted in every way they can imagine because they are elitist. All elitist fear those they feel superior to. Their deep seated fear of the people using firearms to persuade them to do what's right and not what they think is right. They don't give a care about our safety. Only their own, Example- The Arizona tragedy. Who gets the coverage? Certainly not the hero shielding his wife wishing he had a gun to stop that madman! We don't even know his name. No, we don't need any of these ridiculous gun laws. We need God's law. Love your neighbor. Have you ever wondered why does the federal government even need to know why anyone in the country owns a gun. Who has all these laws helped? Be honest, and think about that. Ask a criminal who gun laws help. He will tell you if he could stop laughing! As long as we let them tell us what to do, think and say, it will only be a short matter of time before all firearms will be banned. That, by the bye, is the only thing China is waiting for. They don't want to do the dirty work. Let our government thugs take care of the "patriots". Stand up, walk in, write, yell, carry signs. Whatever. Because, the dog is afraid it will go hungry and will bite every chance it gets. Man, do we need a good dog trainer. Or a gun...
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 06:03
Comment from: George [Visitor] Email · http://OCShooters.com
"What can we do to reduce the number of gun owners and the number of guns they own?" quote from RF from many years ago. Richard would ban all guns if he could and is not willing to accept the idea that he is wrong.
NY already has the AWB and look how well it is doing. If the AWB is working so well in NY how come we can not use NY as an example?
How about doing a show on NY's CoBIS or "Gun DNA" program? Richard was a big supporter and now with over 303,000 guns in the system and between $20 and $40 million spent the program has had ZERO success. First they said it would take 3 years, then 5 years, then 7 years and then 9 years for the program to start working. In March the program will be 10 years old. If Richard is so pro gun and 2nd Amendment then why not show it by having a program about how the CoBIS program is a failure and should be ended. No, instead it will be a program about how CoBIS should be expanded and if is solved one crime it would be worth it. Not about the 50,000 to 70,000 police man hours that have been wasted on the program.
CoBIS is another example of a "common sense gun control program" that is a total failure but anti-gunners like French will never say that the program failed and should be ended.
The AWB is just a bad as CoBIS but the anti-gunners will never admit it.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 07:31
Comment from: Patrick T [Visitor] Email
What should be banned are the media who seize every tragedy that comes along to push a political agenda. The fact is that very few crimes are committed with assault weapons. As for high-cap magazines, a practiced shooter can reload his gun in about one second. So a 10- or 20-round capacity makes little difference. An "assault weapon ban" is nothing more than an attempt of inept politicians and bureaucrats to appear to be doing something useful with their lives and our money. They create a "problem" that doesn't exist, and then "solve" it. Want a more peaceful society? Stop coddling real criminals, and stop drugging school children out of their minds with Ritalin and anti-depressants.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 10:39
Comment from: Patrick T [Visitor] Email
On Pete King's proposal to ban the possession of firearms within 1,000 feet of a politician, I have to say that I am surprised at how shallow his thinking is on this. Does Rep. King actually believe that someone contemplating murder is going to change his mind because of a law forbidding firearms in the presence of his intended victim?

The Congressman should know that Loughner wasn't simply strolling around with his pistol in his pocket and suddenly snap. He planned his attack.

Unless the police were going to do a TSA patdown on every citizen within a five block radius of wherever a politician or federal official happens to be, prohibiting the carry of firearms by honest citizens would not do any favors for said politicians because those who might be able to assist them if they were being attacked would be disarmed. Once again, if you ban firearms then only outlaws will have them.

I like Pete King and thought he made a lot of sense on most issues. This gives me second thoughts. I hope he is better than this with Homeland Security.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 11:03
Comment from: george [Visitor]
From the comments it appears that a ban would not work realistically or politically. But I believe the sellers should have access to a national computer network with up to date data base from all law enforcement agencies. At the present time there is a hodge poge system with many flaws. If the network was up to date it might prevent a wacko obtaining a assault or any firearm. They probably still could obtain them illegally but it might cut down on some of these shootings.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 11:14
Comment from: Kevin [Visitor]
The assault weapons ban doesn't need to be reinstated. No assault weapon (automatic) was used to commit this tragedy. The semi automatic pistol was invented, manufactured and sold in the 1880's. These are not new or assault weapons. This is political rhetoric by the anti gun crowd to capitalize on a great tragedy. For all those gunsmiths that claim how easy it is to convert a semi to automatic, I say you don't know what you are writing about you are just rewriting some misleading information you read.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 11:56
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
Wow, Richard, apparently you read comments on the air the next day, correct?

I beg of you to read every single one of these comments on your show, so that THE TRUTH can be exposed to The People, rather than the biased lies that you spewed for an hour yesterday.

And after each one is read, I beg you to then attempt to even begin to debate these truths. Actually, have a follow up show on this, with people from both sides, and actually ALLOW pro 2nd Amendment individuals such as myself to actually say more than 3 words at a time before you mute us and state more lies while we wait to state 3 more words before being muted again.

That is what a REAL journalist would do...do you strive to be a real journalist one day, Richard, instead of someone who spews lies and claims them to be facts, as you did yesterday? If so then this would be a great first step.

America is a nation full of very forgiving individuals, and I'm sure that the public is willing to let you redeem some of your vastly lost respect if you decide to simply be fair and un-biased in your future reporting.

And I don't think it is too much to ask for; that a journalist be fair & unbiased. OR at the very least, allow opposing viewpoints to actually state their points.

Otherwise shame on you.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 13:16
Comment from: Militia Member [Visitor] Email
I have a Brown Bess Muzzle loading flintlock musket. Due to it's high rate of fire (3 rounds per minute)and 18 inch bayonet, it was considered the assault weapon of its day (1776).
Is there a way for me to easily convert this to fully automatic?
I can't find a firing pin.
The cadets at West Point timed me at 24 seconds on one round, and I felt really outclassed by the guy with the M1 Carbine.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 14:16
Comment from: Johnathan Celso [Visitor] Email · http://www.ignatius-piazza-front-sight.com/category/articles/
The only thing the Arizona incident showed us was that background checks don't work, the Federal government is severly inefficient, and that people will use anything they can to make their side look like it's neccessary.

Here is a point that even the supreme court agreed with in Heller and McDonald: The 2nd amendment has everything to do with keeping American citizens just as commonly armed as any soldier in the U.S. military. Gun control is the exact opposite. It wants to disarm citizens so there is no real accountability whatsoever.

Even though I don't agree with the government's definition of what an assault weapon is, I do believe that this type of legislation is pointless and is all based on the pretenses of saving one life. Well what about the 170 million people who died at the hands of a disarming government in the last 100 years?
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 15:41
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
LOL @ Militia Member !! Most excellent post.

Unfortunately, I doubt that Richard will understand even 1/10th of it, even though he likes to lead his viewers into believeing that he actually has firearms knowledge.
PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 16:33
Comment from: Caspian [Visitor] Email · http://www.closetheloophole.org/
An extensive back ground check makes sense.

PermalinkPermalink 01/19/11 @ 16:33
Comment from: Joseph Spinelli [Visitor] Email
Having heard your show & debate the other day on gun laws and what to do ....Well first & foremost I only hope that you have and keep the info from your responders and turn them over to be investigated & watched because it is the ideas that exist in those idiots sick minds that guns are just fine and the faster the better to kill with and I suppose when they go hunting for their game meals they use such weapons so they do not have to spend any time chopping up their kills in order to eat !!! These people which I hate to use that term on them are nothing but small boys with sick fantasies and a need for attention that I guess they feel a big ole gun can give them! Unfortunately, these are the people we all need to watch and be very aware of and hope they forgot to re-load their bullets before going out in public!!!For all those that claim they need such protection in their homes and for their families ...Well ! You just better know that when you pull that gun out ....Be Real Ready to use it or You will loose! Most guns used in home defense have always resolved in a negative result ... You would probably be better useing a steak knife that you are use to useing and stuffing your fat empty headed selves. It all sounds good & cool to bitch and puff your feathers ...Until it hits Your Home & Your Life !!!
PermalinkPermalink 01/20/11 @ 00:51
Comment from: The 2nd Defends All The Rest [Visitor] Email
Dear Joseph Spinelli: Thank you for posting that comment. I love that you just showed the entire world how vile and full of hatred the anti-gun side really is.

Oh, and not to mention how out of touch with reality, as well.

Firearms are sucessfully and legally used for self defense by ordinary U.S. citizens OVER TWO MILLION TIMES A YEAR.

And from your comments about hunting, it is clear that you do not have even the most basic knowledge of the rules, regulations, nor methods.

When you speak without knowledge, you do yourself and the entire planet a huge disservice. So please either educate yourself first before speaking out, or do not comment on matters that you are uninformed about.
PermalinkPermalink 01/21/11 @ 10:27
Comment from: liberty4u2 [Visitor] Email
Until you stop letting the government scare you into submission you will always be the weak shaking cowards that they want. Wake up. Start by telling yourself the truth. Gun laws are meant to oppress law abiding people. Criminals have unfettered access to any "assault weapon" they could want. The more laws you try the more the criminals like it. Educate yourself so you can stop relying on your false god the government for non existent protection and start depending on your self. Who knows, you may like it.
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