Pelosi tosses cold water on assault-weapon ban

[Renew Deal]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tossed cold water on the prospect of reinstating the assault weapons ban, highlighting Democrats’ reluctance to take on gun issues.

Attorney General Eric Holder raised the prospect Wednesday that the administration would push to bring back the ban. But Pelosi (D-Calif.) indicated on Thursday that he never talked to her. The Speaker gave a flat “no” when asked if she had talked to administration officials about the ban.


“On that score, I think we need to enforce the laws we have right now,” Pelosi said at her weekly news conference. “I think it's clear the Bush administration didn’t do that.”

Outside of the dig at the recent Republican president, that phrase is the stock line of those who don’t want to pass new gun control laws, such as the National Rifle Association.
<snip>

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-tosses-cold-water-on-reviving-assault-weapon-ban-2009-02-26.html

Pelosi actually gets it. :D

[slackmaster]

1. Have I ever posted how much I adore Nancy Pelosi?

:hide:

[Renew Deal]

2. Carolyn McCarthy for Speaker!

:evilgrin:

[NeedleCast]

3. Hooray!

[Mojorabbit]

4. Thank goodness

The last thing Obama needs is the distraction this would cause.

[MADem]

11. In one sentence, you summed up the political realities quite adeptly.

It would be a HUGE distraction. Fat Jesus-loving fundie ladies in flowered frocks, who never held a weapon in their lives, would suddenly be POUTRAGED at their inability to purchase an assault weapon. Senator Bonehead Boehner would get all red under his fake tan as he pounded the table (wheezing and secretly wanting one of those farty English cigarettes he smokes) and insist that 'life as we know it' is doomed, I tell you, DOOOOOOOOMED!

Of course, there will be people who don't understand that refusing to take this issue up is a TACTIC, not a philosophy.

[Parker CA]

17. I'd go one step further and suggest that the idea to float the AW ban was a tactic in a larger

strategy.

Obama may never have intended to institute this ban at all. Such a ban coming right now seems very random and makes not a whole lot of sense to me. Why would he purposely derail his forward progress and momentum in hist first 100 days with such a hot-button issue that the GOP loves to preach about and which has the potential to be a sure loss if pursued?

A couple things to note. The WH has not made any public statement on this, rather, Holder is the person who brought it up, has put the issue into the public arena, and who stated that Obama has not yet decided on a firm ruling due to the amount of issues on his desk. That makes perfect sense, he doesn't need to meddle in this right now. But, if this is somewhat of a preemptive tactic to create a publicly perceived rift between the WH and Holder/Justice Dept. then it does makes sense.

Obama may benefit from having some distance, real or perceived between he and Holder when it comes to sensitive issues such as torture charges, previous administration crimes, and issues down the road where Obama will have a tough time playing the bad-cop and would greatly benefit from being able to remain at arm's length or further from the decision makers in these cases.

The fact that Pelosi was not consulted on such a big issue is a sign to me that this could be a tactic orchestrated amongst only a few behind the curtains. Holder can distance himself a bit from both Pelosi and the WH and move forward with any issue posing potental GOP backlash without entangling Obama and the Dem congress in the mess more than what will be absolutely necessary.

The timing of this is very suspect to me and makes zero sense, unless, like the GOP has done many times, the Obama administration is using some smoke and mirrors to achieve multiple goals at once, the largest, regarding public perception, being that Obama has truly measured the public temperature on this issue and decided to compromise and go against what the administration iniitially suggested it would do. This also puts Pelosi in a position of being able to publicly support a very controversial issue for the GOP and may stem some further commentary that she is tied to the hip of Obama in her decision making process.

[Egnever]

29. Sounds about right to me.

[MADem]

41. Well, the best AGs aren't puppets. Look at Alberto "the tool" Gonzales!

And John Mitchell!!

They're supposed to put the Constitution and the rule of law first. Even though I think John "Let the Eagle Soar" Ashcroft was a dork, he "got" that, and when those baastids tried to get him sign off whilst stoned on post-op meds, he told them to go fuck themselves.

Of course, while people are fussing about guns, they're not fussing about other issues. Obama's pretty tight on message control, there's likely a game plan in place, and he's still new enough that the GOP hasn't quite figured out how he rolls.

[madokie]

60. I was saying to one of my brothers yesterday pretty much the same thing

smoke and mirrors, some more Ali style rope-a-dope maybe.

[dysfunctional press]

5. this is definitely the wrong time to worry about banning assault weapons...

there are SO many bigger fish to fry- and all this will do is to give the opposition forces a toe-hold to rally their mindless minions.

[backscatter712]

6. GOOD!

She knows perfectly well, that Scary Black Weapons are a third-rail issue for the Democrats.

The original "Assault Weapon" ban didn't make any sense, contributed in part to the 1994 electoral defeat by the GOP, and is just a bad idea all around. We've got bigger fish to fry.

[Deep13]

59. +1

[tanngrisnir3]

7. I wish I could come close to believing she did this out of principle..

[Occam Bandage]

38. Democracy is when people do the right things for the wrong reasons.

[Deep13]

57. Acting on her personal opinions is not her job.

I can't blame an elected official for bending to political reality. They are there to represent their constitutents, not themselves. And as Speaker, that means maintaining a D. majority.

[dembotoz]

8. how to loose our majority by 2010?????

go after guns

[NightWatcher]

9. YAY, no need to solidify the right wing when they are in such disarray

[anonymous171]

10. She knows the risks. Good for her. nt

[Raskolnik]

12. It doesn't happen every day, but good for Nancy Pelosi.

Now if she and Reid would just get some spine and stand up to Republicans from time to time, we'd be in business.

[bertman]

52. Thank you, Rakolnik. You nailed it.

[tangent90]

13. Thank you Madame Speaker!

You got it right on this one!
:hug:

[Lost in CT]

14. Thank God for Pelosi... (This is the first time I ever thought this)

Amazing what self preservation will bring out in a person.

She obviously likes to be majority leader.

And Obama needs to find a way to muzzle Holder or at least keep him on message.

[jody]

21. Obama needs to state for the record that he opposes renewing the AWB. n/t

[iverglas]

50. see? the election's over, and still they're doing it

Obama needs to DO WHAT HE'S TOLD, dammit.

And if he doesn't, all those fine progressive liberal gunheads won't vote for him next time.

So there.

[OHdem10]

15. Smart Smart Move--Thank you Nancy--All we need is to have a

gigantic distraction when we are trying to make serious changes
in this country.

[ipfilter]

25. Yes, he needs to put that genie right back in the bottle.

The wing nutters already thought he was going to confiscate their guns.

[jody]

16. Has Pelosi decided her previous gun-grabber votes were wrong?

http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Nancy_Pelosi.htm#Gun_Control

# Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
# Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
# Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)

[rvablue]

19. Wanting a 3-day waiting period for a gun is a "gun-grabbing vote." ?!?!?!

:eyes: :yoiks:

[jody]

20. Yes to many voters. n/t

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightGardener]

26. When you want your gun, you need it NOW, dammit! Right effin' NOW!!

[Occam Bandage]

36. A three-day waiting period is not gun-grabbing, nor is lawsuit immunity.

I'm not sure how continuing to let people sue gun manufacturers for failing to adhere to safety standards is tantamount to "taking your guns away," nor am I sure how a three-day waiting period is "gun grabbing." Really, I can't imagine a situation in which you absolutely need to buy a new gun right away.

[iverglas]

49. sure you can

Really, I can't imagine a situation in which you absolutely need to buy a new gun right away.

The Democratic Party might get control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House, and if you didn't get that gun today, they might have outlawed it tomorrow!!

Our resident gunheads fought the good fight hard for the weeks leading up to that election. They were very, very concerned that if the Democratic Party and its presidential candidate didn't immediately sign sworn statements promising to introduce no legislation ever ever ever with the word "firearm" in it, the party and its presidential candidate would lose that election.

Oh dear, it didn't happen. But you just know it will next time if all those Democrats do what their party platform said they were going to do.

At least, if our resident gunheads have anything to say about it, it will ...

[Pavulon]

62. Lawsuit is a tactic, like FDA regulation of tobacco

i remember some asshole on 60 minutes years ago. He modified the trigger pull on a remington 700 rifle. It has two screws that control the force required to fire the weapon.

So this moron changes the setting and defeats the safety. At some point he loads the weapon with the safety on. With the muzzle pointed at his ankle he removes the safety (flips it forward) and puts a 30 cal round moving at about 3000FPS through his ankle, blowing his foot off. The pull was so light that moving the catch released the sear.

He was trying to sue Remington. This is what immunity is for. To bad the muzzle was not in his mouth to prevent him breeding in the future.

[michreject]

18. I'm shocked

shocked I tell you.

[Lucian]

22. Why do people need to run around with assault weapons?

They should be banned.

[rockymountaindem]

23. What's an assault weapon?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

24. It's a weapon used to commit "assault"

A machine-gun, a stick, a rock, a fist, a voice. Ban them all.

:hi:

edit to add: /just kidding!/

[rockymountaindem]

27. Not to mention assorted types of "sturmgewehr" implements n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

54. sturmgewehr types are already covered by law

Full-auto, or anything with "da switch" to select full-auto, is already covered by tax stamp requirements. I (for example) don't have any of those tax stamps, so there is no so-called gun show loophole for me. I can't legally buy a full-auto gun in the parking lot of a gun show, at somebody's kitchen table, etc.

No need for new "assault weapon" laws for those things.

Not that I want one --- I reload my own with a single-stage press. A lot of work for full-auto shooting.

:hi:

[rockymountaindem]

55. I know

That's the joke.

[jmg257]

33. Duh - In case we need to put a hole in something.

[Mojorabbit]

34. I target shoot with mine

and have great fun doing it. I don't run around with them though.

[Ghost in the Machine]

37. Why do people need to run around drinking alcohol?

It should be banned...

[Occam Bandage]

39. Because running around drinking kerosene isn't very much fun at all!

[benEzra]

42. Those of us who own them don't "run around" with them...

We do take them to the range regularly, and a lot of us shoot them both competitively and recreationally. "Assault weapons" (aka small- to intermediate-caliber civilian rifles with modern styling) dominate centerfire target shooting in the USA, and more Americans own them than hunt (taking H.R.1022 as the operative definition).

Do you know much about guns? If so, would it mean anything to you if I pointed out that an AR-15 is a non-automatic centerfire .22?

[Deep13]

67. I've been itching to take my AR15 to the target range all winter.

I bought it in December and took it to the range once, but the weather was so bad, I could see the snow moving sideways through the scope, I did not really get to wring it out. I have a Bushmaster 20" heavy, stainless barrel with the A-3 removable sights. I think I've gone about as far as I can with .22LR. I can hit a 3" target with a scoped .22 at 100 yards most of the time.

[X_Digger]

69. With the price of 223 ammo..

Might want to consider a 22lr conversion bolt for the AR-15. I feel a lot better being able to shoot for an hour without blowing $100.

[Deep13]

70. I actually have one, but I use it at the indoor range in the winter.

My CZ452 is a far better .22LR rifle than a converted AR is. I kind of feel like the conversion kit was a waste of money.

[X_Digger]

72. Definitely better rifle..

I just cringe at the ammo costs. Since I'm just plinking and not competing, it works for me.

[Deep13]

66. So that's the standard?

If we don't need to run around with something it should be banned?

I don't "run around" with my so-called assualt weapons. I put a lock on them, drive to the rifle range and shoot them under controlled conditions.

[guitar man]

28. thank the FSM

That's the last thing we needed right now...

[frebrd]

30. I wasn't sure I'd ever say it, but "Good for Nancy!" eom

[XOKCowboy]

31. Thank You Speaker Pelosi - I also haven't said that in a while

The AWB is red meat to the Repugs. It was also ineffective. Like Pelosi said, lets enforce the laws already on the books and see how that works.

[deaniac21]

32. Build your own while they are hot

http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/firearm.aspx?id=26

[Occam Bandage]

35. Thank you, Madam Speaker. nt

[FLAprogressive]

40. Pushing through ANY "gun control" legislation will be the death knell for any Democratic majority.

[depakid]

43. Hogwash

Not everyone thinks like people in Florida (thankfully)

[FLAprogressive]

45. beggars can't be choosers (re: constitutional rights)

people who oppose things like FISA/the Patriot Act and support gun control are hypocrites.

I oppose both.

[depakid]

53. Dumb people just end up being dumb people

Which is why they (and various regions where they proliferate) lack credibility- but do make news from time to time.

[Pavulon]

63. Gun control is the opiate of the stupid.

people who do not realize gun control in the US is smoke and mirrors have real problems. Every city with massive crime rates has draconian gun control laws. This is so politicians can "do something".

Problem is they will not address root cause. Poverty, lack of mental health care, and a culture around drugs that promotes violent acts.

However that path would take real work and political risk. So they used to sell us gun control. The stupid ones believe them.

Those of us who have been to geneva and zurich know this tactic is a lie and are just insulted by it.

[chollybocker]

44. Ban Pelosi.

One never knows on what side of the fence she'll fall.

[tom_paine]

46. OMFG! Sitting here in stunned silence. Nancy continues to grow more savvy...and a SPINE!

Keep it up, Nancy.

Make me a believer.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Deep13]

68. My thoughts exactly. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. I wonder if we need a nice fully auto shootout in a nice neighborhood

for this to finally sink in... aka why we need one.

And yes, we own guns, next.

[Deep13]

58. Full auto is already illegal. nt

[iverglas]

48. I can hear the flushing sound now

Soon, the plumbing will carry this to the Guns forum.

Please, there's already one of these there. And the dwellers in that place are already all over this.

Maybe it could be flushed, and then immediately locked as a duplicate?

[Ardent15]

51. As an SF Bay Area resident, Pelosi is a huge disappointment

[Deep13]

56. Suck on that, NRA.

Oh, Pelosi, Obama and the rest of the gun-grabbers are going to take your guns away! Obama will do it by executive order! (Huh?) Pelosi has super-restrictive legislation spooled-up. They are coming for you as soon as they are sworn in!

Bullshit.

Thanks, Nancy for justifying my confidence that you are not going to take my guns away. Since this new term started, more and more it seems ...


:yourock:

[yodoobo]

61. Thats unfortunate imo

I know that some folks have a different view, but I was very pleased to hear that Obama was ramping up to reauthorize the assault weapon ban.

I would have thought that Pelosi would have been on board.

[cherish44]

65. To try to pass gun control right now would be policital suicide for Dems

It's true. Nothing will rally the right wing base more than threatening their damn guns. LEAVE IT ALONE

[aikoaiko]

71. Thank you Speaker Pelosi. Still it's probably all political theater

orchestrated to satisfy people on both sides of the issue. As long as no more gun bans materialize, I can live all the Obama-Holder posturing on banning popular configurations/accessories of SEMI-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns.