Obama to Seek New "Assault Weapons" Ban

[xlr8]

Hot news item just off the Drudge Report links

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6960824&page=1

This probably shouldn't surprise anyone. Holder was big on the "Assault Weapons" ban in the Clinton White House. The interesting thing is that Holder wants to do this just because Mexico wants this reinstated.

Obama to Seek New Assault Weapons Ban
Previous Ban Expired in 2004 During the Bush Administration
By JASON RYAN

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2009—

The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.

"As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons," Holder told reporters.

Holder said that putting the ban back in place would not only be a positive move by the United States, it would help cut down on the flow of guns going across the border into Mexico, which is struggling with heavy violence among drug cartels along the border.

"I think that will have a positive impact in Mexico, at a minimum." Holder said at a news conference on the arrest of more than 700 people in a drug enforcement crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating in the U.S.

Mexican government officials have complained that the availability of sophisticated guns from the United States have emboldened drug traffickers to fight over access routes into the U.S.

A State Department travel warning issued Feb. 20, 2009, reflected government concerns about the violence.

"Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades," the warning said. "Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico, but most recently in northern Mexico, including Tijuana, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez."

At the news conference today, Holder described his discussions with his Mexican counterpart about the recent spike in violence.

"I met yesterday with Attorney General Medina Mora of Mexico, and we discussed the unprecedented levels of violence his country is facing because of their enforcement efforts," he said.

Holder declined to offer any time frame for the reimplementation of the assault weapons ban, however.

"It's something, as I said, that the president talked about during the campaign," he said. "There are obviously a number of things that are -- that have been taking up a substantial amount of his time, and so, I'm not sure exactly what the sequencing will be."

In a brief interview with ABC News, Wayne LaPierre, president of the National Rifle Association, said, "I think there are a lot of Democrats on Capitol Hill cringing at Eric Holder's comments right now."

During his confirmation hearing, Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee about other gun control measures the Obama administration may consider.

"I think closing the gun show loophole, the banning of cop-killer bullets and I also think that making the assault weapons ban permanent, would be something that would be permitted under Heller," Holder said, referring to the Supreme Court ruling in Washington, D.C. v. Heller, which asserted the Second Amendment as an individual's right to own a weapon.

The Assault Weapons Ban signed into law by President Clinton in 1994 banned 19 types of semi-automatic military-style guns and ammunition clips with more than 10 rounds.

"A semi-automatic is a quintessential self-defense firearm owned by American citizens in this country," LaPierre said. "I think it is clearly covered under Heller and it's clearly, I think, protected by the Constitution."

Copyright © 2009 ABC News Internet Ventures

[johnharris]

Wonder if its going to last 10 years as well?

[SomeGuy]

My bet is they will ensure this one has no sunset.

[redbarron06]

[SomeGuy]

I expect grandfathering will happen. Might have registration requirements, probably will.

I doubt TN gets the FFA. Not with Naifeh junior as Speaker.

[jughead]

why should we worry about firearms in mexico. almost impossible to own one there. let them take care of their own house. seems to me that ever country that has a problem they cant handle wants to blame it on the UNITED STATES.

[1gewehr]

It's all about 'image'. We all know that this bill will do nothing about crime or violence except possible cause an increase. Obama and his cronies don't really care what the true effects of such a bill will be. All that's important to them is that they be seen as 'trying' to solve the problem.

The last AWB caused a ten-year supply of semi-auto rifles to be produced and sold in just a few months. Considering that most manufacturers have been running full tilt for the last four months, I suspect that the true effect of this bill will be to ensure that the average American will have ready access to nearly any firearm he wants for at least another ten years. The same will be true for magazines. It's just that there will be very stringent controls on legal sales. I suspect the most interesting effect of a new, permanent AWB will be the creation of a huge black market. Also, if you are going to go to jail for possessing an illegal AR15, why not go ahead and convert the thing to an M16? So, they're just creating a new class of criminals. Albeit one that REALLY IS well armed!

[xlr8]

Update

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

Pelosi tosses cold water on assault-weapon ban
By Mike Soraghan
Posted: 02/26/09 11:59 AM [ET]

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.

The White House declined to comment on Holder's remarks, referring reporters to the Department of Justice. The DoJ did not respond to The Hill's request for comment.

[ProguninTN]

Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Although, I bet Pelosi doesn't want to rush into gun control too soon. (Remember the (R) take over in '94 after the original AWB.)