Terminator wants gun ban to be extended
Hill News ^ | June 3, 2004 | Michael S. Gerber
http://www.hillnews.com/news/060304/schwarzenegger.aspx
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who became a movie star by blowing up and shooting anything that stood in his way, has reaffirmed his support of the federal assault-weapons ban.
In a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) last month, Schwarzenegger called on Congress to renew the ban, which is scheduled to expire in September.
“As you are well aware, Californians overwhelmingly support the ban on these dangerous weapons,” wrote Schwarzenegger, who spoke out in favor of the ban during last year’s campaign for the governorship but has not been very vocal on the issue this year.
“The renewal of the federal ban on assault weapons is a prudent, common sense effort to limit the prevalence and availability of dangerous weapons and protect public safety,” Schwarzenegger added.
“It shows the broad support for this,” said Eric Howard, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence.
Feinstein is one of the ban’s strongest advocates in the Senate, where a majority voted to extend it in March. While the ban-renewal bill has some bipartisan support in the House as well, House GOP leaders are unlikely to schedule a vote on it. Some lawmakers may attempt to force a vote through a discharge position.
But such a move could be dangerous for Republicans during an election year. The National Rifle Association (NRA), which is strongly against the ban’s renewal, was one of the president’s strongest allies in 2000. But the group has yet to endorse Bush, and his signing of an extension could put it an endorsement in jeopardy.
Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist, dismissed Schwarzenegger’s description of the guns covered by the ban as “dangerous military firearms.”
“The letter is factually incorrect,” Cox said. The assault-weapons ban “has nothing whatsoever to do with military weapons.”
While the White House supports the ban, the president has not pressured GOP leaders to act. Gun-control advocates say Schwarzenegger’s endorsement of the ban is another example of the Republican governor breaking from Bush.
“If the president does not step up to the plate, the ban will be terminated,” Howard said.
Schwarzenegger has been quiet about gun issues, some activists pointed out, at times seeming to align with Second Amendment supporters and other times siding with gun-control advocates. The ban has strong support from law-enforcement agencies and is considered popular in California, which has enacted state gun-control laws as well.
Proponents of the ban hope that the famous Republican governor’s support will add momentum to their cause.
“We’re very happy that the governor is taking a public position on this, and publicly calling on the president to take responsible action,” said Howard. “I know the governor is hearing from his law-enforcement constituency and the public.”
Feinstein said, “ I welcome Governor Schwarzenegger’s support in this effort to ensure than the ban is reauthorized and that military-style assault weapons aren’t allowed back on the streets of America. Assault weapons are the weapons of choice for criminals and those seeking to do the maximum damage possible in the shortest amount of time.”
But Cox said the NRA remains confident that the ban will end in the fall.
“This law has had no impact on crime,” Cox said. “In 10 years there’s not one shred of evidence that it’s been effective, and we’re confident that come September this ban will be allowed to sunset.”
Hill News ^ | June 3, 2004 | Michael S. Gerber
http://www.hillnews.com/news/060304/schwarzenegger.aspx
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who became a movie star by blowing up and shooting anything that stood in his way, has reaffirmed his support of the federal assault-weapons ban.
In a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) last month, Schwarzenegger called on Congress to renew the ban, which is scheduled to expire in September.
“As you are well aware, Californians overwhelmingly support the ban on these dangerous weapons,” wrote Schwarzenegger, who spoke out in favor of the ban during last year’s campaign for the governorship but has not been very vocal on the issue this year.
“The renewal of the federal ban on assault weapons is a prudent, common sense effort to limit the prevalence and availability of dangerous weapons and protect public safety,” Schwarzenegger added.
“It shows the broad support for this,” said Eric Howard, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence.
Feinstein is one of the ban’s strongest advocates in the Senate, where a majority voted to extend it in March. While the ban-renewal bill has some bipartisan support in the House as well, House GOP leaders are unlikely to schedule a vote on it. Some lawmakers may attempt to force a vote through a discharge position.
But such a move could be dangerous for Republicans during an election year. The National Rifle Association (NRA), which is strongly against the ban’s renewal, was one of the president’s strongest allies in 2000. But the group has yet to endorse Bush, and his signing of an extension could put it an endorsement in jeopardy.
Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist, dismissed Schwarzenegger’s description of the guns covered by the ban as “dangerous military firearms.”
“The letter is factually incorrect,” Cox said. The assault-weapons ban “has nothing whatsoever to do with military weapons.”
While the White House supports the ban, the president has not pressured GOP leaders to act. Gun-control advocates say Schwarzenegger’s endorsement of the ban is another example of the Republican governor breaking from Bush.
“If the president does not step up to the plate, the ban will be terminated,” Howard said.
Schwarzenegger has been quiet about gun issues, some activists pointed out, at times seeming to align with Second Amendment supporters and other times siding with gun-control advocates. The ban has strong support from law-enforcement agencies and is considered popular in California, which has enacted state gun-control laws as well.
Proponents of the ban hope that the famous Republican governor’s support will add momentum to their cause.
“We’re very happy that the governor is taking a public position on this, and publicly calling on the president to take responsible action,” said Howard. “I know the governor is hearing from his law-enforcement constituency and the public.”
Feinstein said, “ I welcome Governor Schwarzenegger’s support in this effort to ensure than the ban is reauthorized and that military-style assault weapons aren’t allowed back on the streets of America. Assault weapons are the weapons of choice for criminals and those seeking to do the maximum damage possible in the shortest amount of time.”
But Cox said the NRA remains confident that the ban will end in the fall.
“This law has had no impact on crime,” Cox said. “In 10 years there’s not one shred of evidence that it’s been effective, and we’re confident that come September this ban will be allowed to sunset.”
