The Gun Blogs

I am a touch more pessamistic than XD45_NH and Rustmeister.

So what does having a Democrat controlled Congress, and an Administration lead by President Bush mean to gun owners?

Here are my thoughts:

1. I expect to see a new Federal Assault Weapons Ban coming down the pike fairly quickly. The Democrats were not happy to see the sunset of the AWB, and they will be quick to try and get it back on the books. During his first campaign, President Bush promised to sign the AWB if it came across his desk. I fully expect him to keep that promise and sign a new AWB.

2. Next on the list will be closing the “Gun Show Loop Hole”. Now we all know that there is no such thing as a “gun show loop hole”, but that phrase has made it into the psyche of the American public. Even though all gun shows follow all state and federal firearm laws, they have been vilified by the press and the anti gunners. They want gun shows closed, period. Expect this to become a big issue, we will see calls for a national waiting period on all firearms sales, and a requirement that all firearms sales go through a licensed FFL dealer.

3. The Brady Bunch are chomping at the bit to get started on more “Common-Sense Gun Laws”. You know, the above mentioned AWB and waiting periods, magazine capacity restrictions, and most importantly, a National Firearms Registry for all handguns. They are feeling pretty bold at the moment, and have lots of support in the legislature. Just remember which California city Nancy Pelosi represents. From the Brady website:

"Candidates supporting a common sense approach to gun violence prevention did very well. In races where the Brady Campaign endorsed candidates went head-to-head with competing candidates endorsed by the NRA, Brady won 5 of 5 Governorships (Patrick in MA, O’Malley in MD, Rendell in PA, Doyle in WI, and Blagojevich in IL) and 4 of 4 U.S. Senate seats (Cardin in MD, Cantwell in WA, Stabenow in MI, and Nelson in FL). Candidates endorsed by the Brady Campaign won over 95% of their races."

4. If an Assault Weapons Ban slides through easily, and they close the “gun show” loophole, expect the idea of taxing ammunition out of existence to re-emerge. I really doubt that this will happen while Bush is President, but it will be on the back burner waiting for an opportune moment to raise its ugly head once again.

This is what I fully expect to see coming down the pike from a Democrat led Congress. They might try to add restrictions to what they consider arsenals, but I do not think it will happen in the near future. I do not have much hope in the President using his veto pen on much of this legislation either. We have made some good gains these past few years, but I am afraid that they are just temporary.

JR A Keyboard and a .45