Gonzales Wants Arbitrary Power To Block Gun Purchases

[Pred]

SAF Press Release :: GONZALES WANTS ARBITRARY POWER TO BLOCK GUN PURCHASES; SAF SAYS HE SHOULD RESIGN
GONZALES WANTS ARBITRARY POWER TO BLOCK GUN PURCHASES; SAF SAYS HE SHOULD RESIGN
For Immediate Release: 5/1/2007
BELLEVUE, WA – Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ troubling support of legislation that would allow him and future attorneys general the arbitrary power to block firearms purchases without due process is cause for him to step down as the nation’s highest ranking law enforcement officer, the Second Amendment Foundation said today.
The bill, S. 1237, was introduced last week at the Justice Department’s request by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), one of the most extreme anti-gunners in Congress. Called the “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2007,” this legislation would give the Attorney General discretionary authority to deny the purchase of a firearm or the issuance of a firearm license or permit because of some vague suspicion that an American citizen may be up to no good.
“This bill,” said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb, “raises serious concerns about how someone becomes a ‘suspected terrorist.’ Nobody has explained how one gets their name on such a list, and worse, nobody knows how to get one’s name off such a list.
“The process by which someone may appeal the Attorney General’s arbitrary denial seems weak at best,” Gottlieb suggested, “and there is a greater concern. When did we decide as a nation that it is a good idea to give a cabinet member the power to deny someone’s constitutional right simply on suspicion, without a trial or anything approaching due process?
“We’re not surprised that General Gonzales has found an agreeable sponsor in Frank Lautenberg,” Gottlieb observed. “The senator from New Jersey has never seen a restrictive gun control scheme he did not immediately embrace, and S. 1237 is loaded with red flags. It would allow an appointed bureaucrat the authority to suspend or cancel someone’s Second Amendment right without even being charged with a crime.
“Attorney General Gonzales has no business asking for that kind of power over any tenet in the Bill of Rights,” Gottlieb said. “He took an oath to uphold the Constitution, not trample it. Perhaps it is time for him to go.”
The Second Amendment Foundation (Second Amendment Foundation Online) is the nations oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

S. 1237 would give the attorney general, a presidential appointee, the authority to suspend or cancel someone's Second Amendment right, even if that person has never been charged with a crime, the Second Amendment Foundation warned.
At the Justice Department's request, the bill was introduced last week by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), whom SAF describes as one of the most extreme anti-gunners in Congress.
The "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2007" would give the attorney general discretionary authority to deny the purchase of firearms (or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses) to "known or suspected terrorists." The bill has been referred to Judiciary Committee.

[SilverRun]

I just read this as well. Isn't this guy supposed to be a conservative.

Read this
FOXNews.com - Gonzales: More Campus Guns Aren't Answer - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

[BattleRifleG3]

I REALLY miss Atty General John Ashcroft right about now.

Never liked GZ, basically a Rino who supports many anti-gun measures.

[Scot Van]

This is just another reason to purge the entire system and start over...cultural revolution of sorts. The guy is about to get fired for firing the US attorneys wrongfully, so why not just axe him now?!!

Both sides are corrupt.

[Rave]

I knew that sorry azz Bush baby was just biding his time before he started his chit!

[JoeLee]

Backstabbing at it's epiphany,what a sorry SOB that butt-kisser is,Conservative,no way that I can muster Conservative thought in him now.Just another lost in the fog fool not knowing what he stands for!

[just_a_car]

And let us not forget that HR 1022 would give power to the Attorney General to declare a 'military or law enforcement -designed' firearm "non-sporting" and thus banned!

Actual wording from HR 1022 (Sec. 3. Definitions.):

"(a) In General- Section 921(a)(30) of title 18, United States Code, as added by section 2(a) of this Act, is amended to read as follows:

`(30) The term `semiautomatic assault weapon' means any of the following:"
...
"`(L) A semiautomatic rifle or shotgun originally designed for military or law enforcement use, or a firearm based on the design of such a firearm, that is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, as determined by the Attorney General. In making the determination, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a firearm procured for use by the United States military or any Federal law enforcement agency is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, and a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.'."

That means not only he, but all future AG's would have the authority to arbritrarily decide that a gun (most of which were marketed to military and law enforcement for contracts before civilians) is banned! And it says right there at the end that just because something is particularly suitable for a sporting event doesn't make is so in the eyes of the law. THAT'S STUPID! If it's suitable, then it's suitable dim-wits!

Also, this means that any semi-auto rifle or shotgun that the military or federal law enforcement uses is AUTOMATICALLY a "semi-automatic Assault Weapon". There go almost all your semi-auto shotguns. Heck, it only takes one Federal LEO to use a semi-auto rifle and it is up to be banned. Spread Buttcheeks, Insert Head. {End Rant}

[Pred]

To quote a good movie, "There's a storm coming in."

[ArkansasHunter]

You know I smell a rat and the odor is coming from Washington, DC.
Is there a secret society or some group behind stuff like 911, school shootings and the like. My step father said the other day "when they take away our guns, they've got us...But why ?
This backwoods hick is about to get pissed !

[Rave]

I remember when I first brought up HR 1022 there was a huge yawn,not to worry,the Republicans are in. Yeah,right,politics is politics.

[troy2000]

Well, Gonzales has nothing but contempt for the rest of the Constitution and Bill of Rights; does it really surprise anyone to find out he doesn't care about the Second Amendment either?

"You're doin' a heck of a job, Fredo..."

[Sav .250]

When it`s time to vote.................keep all this stuff in mind!

[Pred]

See, that would work, if the people had a say in who Bush appoints. But seeing as how we don't.....

[BattleRifleG3]

Originally Posted by HR1022

and a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.

So in other words, a firearm isn't to be considered suitable for sporting purposes just because it's considered suitable for sporting purposes.
Great going, Einstein, I mean Feinstein.

[just_a_car]

Originally Posted by BattleRifleG3

So in other words, a firearm isn't to be considered suitable for sporting purposes just because it's considered suitable for sporting purposes.
Great going, Einstein, I mean Feinstein.

Exactly what I thought.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

Originally Posted by troy2000

Well, Gonzales has nothing but contempt for the rest of the Constitution and Bill of Rights; does it really surprise anyone to find out he doesn't care about the Second Amendment either?
"You're doin' a heck of a job, Fredo..."

I told you all gonzo was a piece of shizzit but, nooooooooo.....nobody wanted to hear it. Well, guess we are gonna hear it now. Rave was correct, these traitors will do anything to wag the dog. I'll be so glad when they are all gone. Even a dem is starting to look better than what we got now. Troy, you got it right, this time! PS, Sorry, I know this post sounds poitical but, the thread's tone is.....well,......political.....sorta.RRJB

[troy2000]

It may be a political thread, but it relates directly to guns and the Second Amendment...

I've heard that politics makes strange bedfellows, but even I'm a little amazed that Gonzales is pushing something so blatantly anti-conservative that he had to go the most anti-gun Senator in Congress in order to get it sponsored.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

his butt's hanging over the fire, he's gotta do something to get the dems off his case. So, screw the republican base of Christian right and gun owners. not only is he a swine of the worst kind but, he's also so dumb, even bush looks like Einstein when you compare the two side by side. Imagine, the only folks that made it possible for them to win the election....and they want to sacrifice us for gonzo the loser! The repubs are all but lost.

[BattleRifleG3]

Did I mention I miss Ashcroft?

That said, I'll take Gonzalez over Reno any day, especially on gun rights.

[Rave]

Gonzo,Reno,a poor choice,Ashcroft,better.