Can someone help me understand better what the issue is with the expiration of the assault weapon ban?

As I understand it, it was passed some number of years ago during the Clinton (?) administration and was written in such a way that it would expire unless legislation was passed to extend it.

It was reported in the news that President G W Bush had said he would sign a bill if such legislation came to him. Such legislation did not come, and yet Sen. Kerry is making the expiration of the ban an issue and blaming the president for now pushing for such legislation.

Legislation originates in the Congress. Sen. Kerry is a member of Congress. If he is truly passionate about extending the ban on assault weapons, is it not true that he, himself, could have proposed such legislation?

Was he too busy campaigning? Was he absent for Congress too much? Is this another example of "flip-flopping" on an issue?

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2004

Answers

My 2 cents:

By saying you'll sign something if Congress puts it on the floor is a cop-out. You can't be blamed if THEY don't do anything.

If our President was really concerned about the safety of Americans (especially our children), he should have put the same effort into renewing the ban as he did getting the Medicare bills passed.

He and Kerry are trying to win the votes of the people who like guns. End of story. This is just another political football to be used as propaganda until election time.

Oh well, guess I'll have to go out and get an Uzi to defend myself against the terroists who can get them now.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2004

The Democrats proposed an extension but the Republican majority tabled it. Since the Republicans - and President Bush - control the Congress, there's little that Sen. Kerry can do except complain.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2004

Does this mean that one would be able to go to the local K-Mart and purchase an assult weapon should one choose?

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2004