Gun Ban Rammed Through On Voice Vote

Rep. Sensenbrenner Rams Gun Ban Through On Voice Vote
— Time to ask your Senators to oppose the same ban

The gun grabbers know what this fight is all about… it’s about “incrementalism.” It’s about steadily advancing their illicit cause, even when support for gun control has little popular appeal outside of Congress.

Consider the statement of one prominent Democrat on the House floor today:

“In the wake of the September 11 attacks, we need to do much more to prevent dangerous firearms from falling into the hands of would-be terrorists and other violent criminals,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) when speaking in favor of the ban that passed the House this morning.

“We could start by renewing the current assault weapons ban. We could also strengthen criminal background checks and close the gun show loophole,” Scott said. “Finally, we need to protect us from [plastic guns]. The bill before us today achieves the last of these objectives.”

In other words: “We want much more, but today, we’ll settle for a ban on a gun that doesn’t even exist.”

Scott wants to ban these guns, before they are ever invented, to keep bad guys from getting them. The fallacy of his argument is in thinking that ANY gun ban will stop terrorists and violent criminals from getting the outlawed weapons. No gun ban on the face of the earth has done that yet.

Not in the nation’s capital — nor in Chicago, Los Angeles or even England — have gun bans worked to keep bad guys from getting firearms.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) authored this bill to extend the prohibition on plastic firearms. The current ban is scheduled to sunset in December.

The Wisconsin Congressman brought it directly to the floor of the House, having skipped the committee process, after successfully urging the House leadership to allow the rules of the House to be suspended.

Speaking in favor of the ban, Sensenbrenner praised the Bush Justice Department for supporting the bill. In opposition, Gun Owners of America was the only national gun lobby to fight the ban.

Sensenbrenner managed to get H.R. 3348 passed on a voice vote, meaning that fewer than 30 Representatives — those who happened to be on the floor at the time — were all that it took to extend the ban on these firearms.

In one sense, the ban is meaningless since a completely plastic gun has yet to be invented. It would be like banning Star Trek phaser rifles. The technology is not even there. And no gun manufacturer is even close to developing an all-plastic gun in the near future.

In another sense, however, the ban continues to extend the illegitimate reach of Congress into the realm of firearms — a precedent which will be used by gun grabbers in the future to justify more bans.

The fight now shifts to the Senate, where Senator Ted Kennedy is expected to push his version of the bill very soon.

Unlike the House bill, which simply extends the ban for 10 more years, S. 1774 would make the ban permanent.

ACTION: Please urge your Senator to oppose S. 1774, and to instead support REAL efforts aimed at stopping terrorists — such as arming the rest of the pilots who want to carry guns.

Please visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send the pre-written message below to your Senators.

—— Pre-written message —–

Dear Senator:

I urge you to vote against S. 1774, a bill authored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). This bill is unconstitutional, and it is a useless waste of taxpayers’ money and of your time. Plus, the gun it purports to ban doesn’t even exist!

If a totally plastic gun is ever developed, a ban will not keep bad guys from getting their hands on such a firearm any more than the other 20,000 or so gun laws keep murderers and thieves from getting their hands on guns now.

You have much more important things to do. Please, instead of wasting your time banning a gun that does not exist, force the Transportation Safety Administration to arm pilots.

Gun Owners of America will inform me how you vote. Please vote against S. 1774.

Sincerely,

****************************

New! “Just For Skeptics” Websection

Know someone who doesn’t know what to think about using guns for self protection? Or perhaps someone who “knows” all about the need for gun control — and doesn’t know they are wrong? Check out the Just For Skeptics section of the GOA website at http://www.gunowners.org/skeptic.htm to help your friends. Dozens of articles and fact sheets divided into eight categories explode common gun control myths, highlight real-life instances of self-defense, and explore the role of the gun in modern society. Even a long-time activist will find plenty of “soundbites” suitable for talk shows or casual conversation. Tell those skeptical friends of yours about it today — before some thug gets to them first!