The assault weapons ban: A case study in the politics of frivolity Once again, our lawmakers cloak unpassable legislation in base-pleasing rhetoric The Senate Judiciary Committee last week approved a measure that would reinstitute the assault weapons ban. Big news, right? The bill will now head to the entire Senate for a vote... unless of course Republicans filibuster... but nevertheless, this is big, right? Wrong. The New York Times story detailing the measure's passage described the bill as "almost certain to fail if brought before the entire Senate." It "has almost zero chance of even receiving a hearing in the House." Nor should it be since all available evidence suggests that an assault weapons ban would have a negligible impact on safety. Of course, that point is one of substance, and nothing about the debate over the proposed AWB has anything to do with whether it will or will not work. Everything about the proposed renewal of the AWB is theatrics and serves as yet another example of the triumph of style at the expense of substance in our national politics. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is a very bright woman and a very good politician. When she proposed the new AWB, she knew there was a zero percent chance that it would become law. But she also knew that the people who voted for her are, by and large, anti-gun. More importantly, as the author of the original Brady Bill, Sen. Feinstein is widely viewed as the darling of the anti-gun movement and its allies. By proposing the AWB, Sen. Feinstein can tell all of the donors who care about the gun issue that she fought for the most aggressive legislation possible, and that she will keep fighting which will lead to more donations. .... the rest of the story: http://news.yahoo.com/assault-weapons-ban-case-study-politics-frivolity-111000176.html
It wasn't frivolous to Feinstein. In her case it was "career enhancement", as you reported from the article. Politicians being politicians is what DC's all about. I just wish all the gunturds had the sense to realize this before they went and caused an ammo shortage of epic proportions.
They know it will not work, it didn't work when the Brady bill was in effect and Colunmbine and many other mass shootings took place. They fraudulently tell the families of those poor kids killed at Sandy Hook that they are doing something to keep it from happening again, but they are lying and they know it. Dispcable.
Many Republican politicians do the same thing on the immigration issue - when in reality they LOVE the cheap labor.
Anders, I couldn't agree more. Career politicians.........go figure, usually have their own agenda and it is usually not the one they show. Personally, I think every elected position should have permanent time limits and once you've done your service, then retire quietly to the countryside and leave the running of America to the next batch. None of this bull(*)(*)(*)(*) about self-serving pay raises, you have to provide your own health insurance, and other than a president, no secret service protection.
