Assault Weapons Ban Lacks Democratic Votes to Pass Senate

[JVC]

Looks like there is still a bit of common sense in the Senate. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-25/assault-weapons-ban-lacks-democratic-votes-to-pass-senate.html

Sorry for the link to Blomberg News, but that is where the story originated. Interesting, that a news outlet owned by Mayor Bloomberg would be reporting this story. Perhaps it is to energize gun control advocates?

I can say one thing, the Second Amendment supporters have really come out en masse ahead of the gun control folks. I realize that there is a gun control march on Washington DC today, but it is hard to tell just how many people really showed up (CNN keeps the camera angle tight).

It is essential that you find out who your elected representatives are at the state and federal levels and send them emails and letters letting them know where you stand! I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, but please don't use the excuses that you are too busy or someone else will do it for you. It takes less than 15 minutes to go online and send a comment. We have to do this every week, or they will think that we don't care about the Second Amendment!

[Clint45]

“I’m much less concerned, quite frankly, about what you call an assault weapon ban than I am about magazines and the number of rounds that can be held in a magazine,” Biden said.

HERE'S an idea, Joe Biden: how about instead of attempting to force a completely unworkable ban on hi-cap magazines, you simply INCREASE THE PENALTIES for anyone who actually uses a hi-cap mag IN THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT FELONY OFFENSE. Seriously. You want to put a dent in mass shootings, you take everyone found guilty of a mass shooting and have them publicly executed in the worst possible way. Simply turing them into celebrities and providing free room, board, health care, ans cable television for life does not seem to be working so well. Maybe then sickos will think twice about shooting up a schoolyard or their workplace. It may even cut down on gang-related driveby shootings. Seriously, any crime in which an individually recklessly and unlawfully fires into a crowd of innocent civilians, injuring more than one of them, should be subject to extreme punishment. This should could even apply to CCW holders and LEOs who fail to check their backstop before emptying their magazine into a crowd (as in NYC). The problem is NOT the hi-cap magazine. The problem is individuals who would willfully empty said magazine into a crowd of innocent bystanders. Even if no-one is actually killed, I think this offense should be punished far more severely than homicide, rape, robbery, or kidnapping . . . and the punishment should be televised. If Eric Harris any Dylan Klebold had been drawn and quartered on PPV I think far fewer insignificant losers would feel compelled to copycat them. This should be the one and only exception to the "cruel and unusual punishment" stipulation. We'd have a lot fewer mass shootings.

[Eggysrun]

“I’m much less concerned, quite frankly, about what you call an assault weapon ban than I am about magazines and the number of rounds that can be held in a magazine,” Biden said.

HERE'S an idea, Joe Biden: how about instead of attempting to force a completely unworkable ban on hi-cap magazines, you simply INCREASE THE PENALTIES for anyone who actually uses a hi-cap mag IN THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT FELONY OFFENSE. Seriously. You want to put a dent in mass shootings, you take everyone found guilty of a mass shooting and have them publicly executed in the worst possible way. Simply turing them into celebrities and providing free room, board, health care, ans cable television for life does not seem to be working so well. Maybe then sickos will think twice about shooting up a schoolyard or their workplace. It may even cut down on gang-related driveby shootings. Seriously, any crime in which an individually recklessly and unlawfully fires into a crowd of innocent civilians, injuring more than one of them, should be subject to extreme punishment. This should could even apply to CCW holders and LEOs who fail to check their backstop before emptying their magazine into a crowd (as in NYC). The problem is NOT the hi-cap magazine. The problem is individuals who would willfully empty said magazine into a crowd of innocent bystanders. Even if no-one is actually killed, I think this offense should be punished far more severely than homicide, rape, robbery, or kidnapping . . . and the punishment should be televised. If Eric Harris any Dylan Klebold had been drawn and quartered on PPV I think far fewer insignificant losers would feel compelled to copycat them. This should be the one and only exception to the "cruel and unusual punishment" stipulation. We'd have a lot fewer mass shootings.

The problem with raising penalties is that the perps usually end up killing themselves, or die in a stand off with the police.

Personally I think the real epidemic of this country is how the traditional idea of family is deteriorating which has over the years created many consequences. Notice the last couple shootings the guys have been in their 20's, did it ever occur to anyone that maybe how kids have been growing up in the 90's is part of the problem? More single parents, more parents working instead of being at home to raise their kids? To me watching the family system fall apart has been the most significant change in society in the past 20-30 years yet no one wants to address that.

Kids growing up have all these mental health issues now because their parents aren't around and even worse become so sheltered by parents, or schools to the real world that when they are in their 20's they can't handle the real world and snap.

[DOC]

We should ban them after the fact. No wait that won't work either. Let the people be armed or at least make it well known that everyone is armed everywhere and you can defend yourself from attacks from suicidal murderers or prevent them from ever happening. The last criminals that you are hearing about all the time were successful in their rampage. The ones that you don't hear about started off the same but were shut down by a regular person with a gun. But you don't hear about that and the president isn't using those times to talk about more gun control because it doesn't work with his disarming tragedy. In fact it flies in the face of it.

[hatidua]

I'm trying to keep up my daily calls/writing to each CO politician in hopes of making a difference. I wonder when all of the talk will come to a head and people will vote on things...?

[King]

A gun restriction law that will prevent mass shootings from taking place is nonexistent. What will make a difference are responsible armed citizens with a pair who will protect those who lack a pair at all costs.

[JM Ver. 2.0]

The problem with raising penalties is that the perps usually end up killing themselves, or die in a stand off with the police.

Personally I think the real epidemic of this country is how the traditional idea of family is deteriorating which has over the years created many consequences. Notice the last couple shootings the guys have been in their 20's, did it ever occur to anyone that maybe how kids have been growing up in the 90's is part of the problem? More single parents, more parents working instead of being at home to raise their kids? To me watching the family system fall apart has been the most significant change in society in the past 20-30 years yet no one wants to address that.

Kids growing up have all these mental health issues now because their parents aren't around and even worse become so sheltered by parents, or schools to the real world that when they are in their 20's they can't handle the real world and snap.

Whoa whoa whoa. Calm down there, buddy.

I was raised by a single parent. I was "sheltered". I'm in my 20s. You need to be careful with what you say. You might offend someone.

**I'm a Buddhist Monk and I approve this message.**

[merl]

I'd agree with others. much more worried about universal checks and mag capacity limits.

I'd guess (but not bet a large sum) that the same is true at state level.

[merl]

oh, large capacity mags & heavier penalties.

the only drawback is that it further demonizes high capacity magazines.
Even if it was ineffective as far as mass killings it would not hurt gun owners; just another "don't shoot people that aren't trying to kill you" law. I'd expect most handguns to get caught by any such law so if it put criminals in jail longer, ok.

[Dave]

Or.... maybe we just outlaw murder and give it stiff penalties like death or life in prison. [Poke]

[merl]

Or.... maybe we just outlaw murder and give it stiff penalties like death or life in prison. [Poke]

would that be a "Don't fucking shoot people that aren't trying to kill you" law? (that was how I had it before editing) :)

[Great-Kazoo]

Limiting the amount of ammo a gun can hold to prevent violence, is like saying less parking spaces in front of a bar reduces drunk driving.

The decline of a 2 parent family is a null & void argument. Look at harris & klebold, middle-upper class white 2 parent homes. Hell the " educators, psychologists & EXPERTS were wringing their hand and banging their heads against the wall on every media outlet in the world after columbine. It went against everything they "Knew" pertaining to the kind of family, lifestyle, socio-economics AND last but not least, THEY WERE WHITE, GASP!

Nothing will ever deter a criminal from committing crime, nothing. If gun and magazine bans actually worked we would have No Crime, or unicorns and leprechauns

[JVC]

I'm trying to keep up my daily calls/writing to each CO politician in hopes of making a difference. I wonder when all of the talk will come to a head and people will vote on things...?

First, the president will give his State of the Union address in February. He will use that as a platform to encourage citizens to come out and support Dianne Feinstein's legislation and any other bills that will be introduced. Keep in mind, nothing has been introduced in the House. Normally, both houses pass bills, and then they go to conference committee for negotiation. If the House fails to pass a bill, which is likely, then they take the Senate bill to the House. In it's current form, the Senate bill is dead on arrival in the House, because the Republican majority won't pass it "as is."

So, the administration wants people to come out en masse, like civil rights days, and march on the Mall and hammer their legislators to vote for the Senate bill. It is up to us to keep the pressure on steady and strong to counter the likely rising tide of pressure that will come from the gun control advocates. My guess is that the Bloomberg story was published specifically to put gun control advocates on notice that they are behind and need to step up the pressure on lawmakers.

I have read the Dems and the president are seeking a vote in the first week of March, which means that if they bring an actual bill to the floor of either house, we have to keep the pressure on. Ideally, no bill is brought to a vote, and keeping emails, letters and phone calls coming in is critical as a constant reminder that we don't want more ineffective laws.

The logic that we know as truth on this board does not make an impact with gun control advocates. The horror of Sandy Hook and other mass shootings has emotionally compromised them, which shuts off their mental processing. They can't see how politicians have leveraged these awful tragedies for their selfish advantage, so we need to speak to them at a different level. For as passionate as they are about "saving just one life" we need to be as persistent and rational about "not here" when it comes to the kind of tyranny that exists in North Korea and elsewhere. We need to raise the visibility of those who are saved by the use of a gun or threat of deadly force in a very calm and caring manner.

Why anyone would trust this money-soaked Congress with the power to confiscate arms is beyond me. Yeah, it can happen anywhere - even here - because human nature is what it is. Keep that message up front and center.

The bottom line is that no law written on paper will stop those who do not have the Law of Love written on their hearts.

[ghettoblaster]

“I’m much less concerned, quite frankly, about what you call an assault weapon ban than I am about magazines and the number of rounds that can be held in a magazine,” Biden said.

HERE'S an idea, Joe Biden: how about instead of attempting to force a completely unworkable ban on hi-cap magazines, you simply INCREASE THE PENALTIES for anyone who actually uses a hi-cap mag IN THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT FELONY OFFENSE. Seriously. You want to put a dent in mass shootings, you take everyone found guilty of a mass shooting and have them publicly executed in the worst possible way. Simply turing them into celebrities and providing free room, board, health care, ans cable television for life does not seem to be working so well. Maybe then sickos will think twice about shooting up a schoolyard or their workplace. It may even cut down on gang-related driveby shootings. Seriously, any crime in which an individually recklessly and unlawfully fires into a crowd of innocent civilians, injuring more than one of them, should be subject to extreme punishment. This should could even apply to CCW holders and LEOs who fail to check their backstop before emptying their magazine into a crowd (as in NYC). The problem is NOT the hi-cap magazine. The problem is individuals who would willfully empty said magazine into a crowd of innocent bystanders. Even if no-one is actually killed, I think this offense should be punished far more severely than homicide, rape, robbery, or kidnapping . . . and the punishment should be televised. If Eric Harris any Dylan Klebold had been drawn and quartered on PPV I think far fewer insignificant losers would feel compelled to copycat them. This should be the one and only exception to the "cruel and unusual punishment" stipulation. We'd have a lot fewer mass shootings.

I think this is really reasonable. Hell, if Iran can punish people that way, why not us? We're moving in that direction anyway....