On June 11, 23 state attorney generals signed and sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder advising him that they are opposed to renewal of the 1994 Clinton administration’s ban on semiautomatic firearms, erroneously dubbed “assault weapons” by proponents of the ban.
A list of those attorneys general is included below, and surprisingly, it does not include Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna.
This is a remarkable letter, made public by the National Rifle Association. It follows three months after 65 House Democrats sent a similar letter to Holder, admonishing him for remarks made earlier this year suggesting that the Obama administration would like to see the ban renewed. That March 17 letter took issue with Holder, and others, who at the time were using the drug cartel wars in Mexico as an excuse to push for renewal of the ban, which expired in September 2004 after having accomplished pretty much nothing.
As the states’ top law enforcement officials, we share the Obama Administration’s commitment to reducing illegal drugs and violent crime within the. We also share your deep concern about drug cartel violence in United States . However, we do not believe that restricting law abiding Americans’ access to certain semi-automatic firearms will resolve any of these problems. Mexico
McKenna is not generally thought of as an anti-gunner. His office did, after all, advise Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels – poised to be elected president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Monday – that his blustery promise to ban legally-carried handguns from Seattle city property by executive order would be illegal. Nickels has some other problems as he heads into another campaign for re-election (the guy has never held a job in the private sector), and it will be interesting to watch whether he tries to bully people with his new national status, or make good use of his new position to address such pressing needs nationally as municipal infrastructure at times of economic downturn, public transportation, and urban decay.
It is not “bullying” in which the pro-gun attorneys general are engaging with Holder, but frank conversation about a subject that should be dead and buried. All 23 of these chief law enforcement officers concur that “additional gun control laws are unnecessary” and that the individual right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment “should not be encroached upon without sound justification – and a clear law enforcement purpose.”
Because fully automatic machine guns have already been banned, we do not believe that further restricting law-abiding Americans’ access to certain semiautomatic firearms serves any real law enforcement purpose.
The only logical purpose of reinstating the ban, expanding it as proponents desire and making it permanent would be to strip American citizens of their legally held property and make it seem acceptable. Once the gun prohibition lobby can sell the notion that banning a specific type of firearm is okay, they will wait a while and then move to ban another specific type of firearm, all under the guise of public safety.
As with the case of the letter from the 65 Democrat congress members in March, this letter did not get any news coverage, at least not yet. You can rest assured that if 23 attorneys general had signed a letter calling upon the Obama administration to push for renewal of the ban, it would have occupied all of the Sunday morning news/talk programs.
The 23 state Attorneys General who signed the letter are:
Arkansas – Dustin McDaniel
Alabama - Troy King
Colorado - John W. Suthers
Florida - Bill McCollum
Georgia - Thurbert E. Baker
Idaho - Lawrence G. Wasden
Kansas - Steve Six
Kentucky - Jack Conway
Louisiana - James D. Caldwell
Michigan - Mike Cox
Missouri - Chris Koster
Montana - Steve Bullock
Oklahoma - W.A. Edmonson
Nebraska - Jon Bruning
Nevada - Catherine Cortez Masto
New Hampshire - Kelly A. Ayotte
North Dakota - Wayne Stenehjem
South Carolina - Henry McMaster
South Dakota - Lawrence Long
Texas - Greg Abbott
Utah - Mark L. Shurtleff
Wisconsin – J.B. Van Hollen
Wyoming - Bruce A. Salzburg
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Comments
Yeehaw!
Now you can go "hug your gun" and have a cookie. This news must have made your pathetic narrow-minded day I am sure.
Gee, Mike, are you projecting?
Glad to see NH is in there. Molon Labe!
Yes, Mike, My days are always pathetic narrow-minded, You know I think I'll just have a Cookie. Good Day
Mike, come to the dark side. We have cookies!
Why isn't California on this list ?
Good thinking...now they can save thier seats and not get voted out.
Why isn't N.Y. on the list. Oh. No way to tax it i guess. They don't play well with others anyway.
Holy mackrel, is someone finally growing some cajones?!
& for the mikes inthe world, when the s*#t hits the fan, don't come holding our pants legs crying "save me daddy", we can just throw you back in the streets. remember----
"it is far better todie a free man, weapon inhand, than to live life as a coward & a slave".
CA isn't on the list because we have good ol' Gov. Moonbeam (as Jerry Brown was affectionately known when he was gov of CA) as our state AG. And I'm pretty sure he's NEVER seen a gun-ban law that he didn't like. I can't wait to retire (in 4 years I hope) and get out of this lousy state . . .
hey mike- you are the narrow minded one..and the anti-freedomite narrow minded one, at that! You obviously are on the side of taking our gun rights away (well, infringing, as the rights are our rights, whether or not infringed!)...and see, that makes you a CRIMINAL- as what a criminal does is deny folks their rights! To private property, peace and tranquility and quiet enjoyment of home, or of life itself. ALL GUN CONTROLLERS ARE GUILTY OF THE MURDERS OF THE DISARMED INNOCENTS SLAIN IN THE CRIMINAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES!
Live by the sword and die by the sword. Your guns will not make you safer, only Jesus will. Look at Israel, have their nukes made them safer? Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. It is just that simple.
Mike, Jeff, The pacifist helps give war its point, to make the exercise worthwhile, by allowing you to enslave him, to take his wife to serve yours, his daughters to warm your bed, and his sons as machine gun fodder, safe in the knowledge that he will not lift a hand to stop you, lest he risk compromising his "principles.
Jeff,
I don't believe in god. I believe in The Constitution of the United States of America. That and my extensive gun collection.....
Go preach elsewhere.........
And to think I actually scanned the list for Noo Joisey. Silly me.
I'll bet if you check close enough Mike is most likely a member of PETA too...!
Where is Arizona's AG?! One of the reasons I'm here is that I correctly or maybe incorrectly?
thought it would be a last bastion of gun rights.
Come on AZ let's get moving!
are you a gun owner ? voted for obama ? feel stupid yet ? feel lied too yet wake up america you were fooled help save the second amendment join the Nra next listen to the nra
"ALL GUN CONTROLLERS ARE GUILTY OF THE MURDERS OF THE DISARMED INNOCENTS SLAIN IN THE CRIMINAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES! "
stupidest crap ive ever heard
@ UZIBoy
Your "extensive gun collection" will end up being your greatest undoing. It will mean nothing when the day of reckoning comes. Trust me.
not suprised to not see NY on here, we're still living under the idiotic ban, i guess it just hasnt hit them yet that it dosent work, but i guess if they lifted it the babies in the city would cry till someone shoves some more money in their mouthes, but i suppose its not suprising considering what kind of idiots run this state, i cant wait to leave this place and return to the United States and live free
Oh hey Jeff, Jesus told people to arm themselves in self defense.
If he was gonna save us by himself why would he say that? Because he saves us from something other than a terrorist or burglar... that whole damnation thing...
Read the Bible before invoking him plzkthx
Hey Steve,....You are not the only one with sense in NYC. You hit it right on the head of the nail. One police plaza headquarters preach that guns are strictly for hunting and in the same breath say we should not kill bambi ! Sick is not the word for New York State. Between the drivers, gays, slobs, taxes, etc. NYC and State is first on the list of liberal elitism. Eliminate NY of the Sullivan law and it's lawyers, for it is a death State.
Jeff,
Wasn’t there something about trading your cloak, or something like that, for a sword???
I bother no one with my firearms, I have killed no one with my firearms, and I have committed no crimes with my firearms.
So, take your holier than thou religion, and attitude, and go preach to your choir, cause you'll get nowhere here with me.
God and I parted ways years ago.
A weapon is insurance, just like a college degree, a food storage, and a strong belief in
God. One can be a Christian and still pack heat...
Ditto as to what Steve said. Lived in NY until the mid -70's and yes it is a totally liberal bastion of left wingers. Have lived in Texas since 1980. It's a free "country".
I'm on board with Steve. As soon as my children have grown I'm out of New York. This state is not the America I was taught aout in school when I was growing up. I've taught my children to shoot and how to handle guns. I've also told them, "Do not stay in New York!". I will move out West to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!
I sure wish that TN govenor was on that list,I think its time to vote some new people in TN goverment.Because they are not representing the people correctly.
If you want to move towards freedom, don't come to Wa and I would also skip Oregon and California!
You guys are part of the reason America is in such sad shape. I don't mind people having guns for hunting, whatever, but semi-automatics have no place. You gun nuts are just as myopic, self-centered as the liberals you condemn. Freedom does not come from having guns but from what is inside your heart. Why don't you cop to your misguided fears and grow up. When it comes time to face others shooting back, you won't be so macho, because eventually you will be outgunned. This is 2009, not 1789. You are not part of a regulated militia, white or otherwise, no matter what you call your racist selves. And as a hunter, I'm particularly tired of you guys shooting animals indescriminatly and leaving them dying on the side of the road so you can get your overinflated, highly insecure male rocks off. That's not hunting! The world does not revolve around the USA anymore, Bush etal saw to that. Having guns does not make anyone a real man, just shows how deeply insecure you really are.
To Mr Gary Thomas;
There's this document called "The Constitution", you might want to give it a read.
As for the "dying animals on the side of the road", only ones I've seen were hit by vehicles.
Maybe we should ban cars & trucks, after all we have no "need" of them, not with planes, trains and buses, right ?
That make you feel any better ?
Gary Thomas,
It's ok to have opinions, however it would be nice to get opinions from people who have even the slightest technical inkling of what they are commenting on. I can tell by your remarks that you don't have a clue as to what a semi-automatic weapon is. So it does not surprise me that you fear what you certainly don't understand.
Thanks.
For the people afraid of weapons,
You say freedom is what is in your hearts not your hands. To that I must say:
In Germany in the '30's everyone cheared when weapons were taken away from the pepole. Most cheared when property rights were taken from "undesireables." No one said anything when those same undesireables were herded into ghettos and train cars carring them to their death. What was in their heart didn't save them, feed them or help them.
Whats in my hands may. If not it gives me the one thing i can get no where else, TIME.
Gary Thomas is really Barry Sotoro
UZIBoy, Sorry to hear you will be burning in hell for all eternity.
All the anti-gunners are brainwashed domesticated slaves and they feel safe and secure knowing our totalitarian central controllers have stormtroopers armed with machine guns in case anyone gets any ideas about asserting any personal freedom. Yeah, can't wait for this brave new world of brotherly love they keep selling. When is it going to get better slaves? You buy into the system because just like the turd below stated so clearly, things will get better when everyone who doesn't think like they do are eliminated. Its pure hatred and intolerance hiding behind sloganeering about peace and love. Shove it slave, this matrix of lies is falling apart faster than you can say new world order. Keep licking up the lies they sell, the rest of us are preparing to survive when the world begins to right itself from the tyranny of good intentions. Nothing survives that is not willing to defend itself. That is a law of nature you will never escape and one your fairy tales pretend does not exist. bye
freedom is not free. it was won with guns, blood, guts,men of Americans who knew that it was worth fighting for. i am a vet. i fought for this country. so did my father and my fathers father and everyman in my family since this 1776. if you feel that guns have no place in amercia then you keed to look @ the history of this great nation again. the only reason japan didnt invade is because they knew every person had a gun or 2.....
Live and let live,until it tries to do you bodily harm.
Armed villains can kill unarmed men with monotonous regularity.
I'm a bit annoyed IN isn't represented. I doubt it's an issue, but I'd enjoy seeing the weight added.
Now Y'all, I have to ask you not to jump on Gary Thomas so much. I was taught that it isn't nice to make fun of or criticize the mentally handicapped. They can't help it.
Shouldn't it be obvious that Mr. Thomas is a few fries short of a Happy Meal? He obviously knows nothing of liberty, human nature or the price of liberty. He either is grown and stupid or too young to really have a functioning brain yet. Else he could have learned from history or even figured out the price of liberty for himself.
That he hasn't indicates that intelligent men should actually pity him his handicap and overlook his mewlings and droolings.
How about it? Show a little charity.
There, there,now, Gary.
I am happy to report Indiana has LIFETIME concealed carry permits to those who qualify. We have seen the light and its mounted under our pistols. Criminals BEWARE!
The hunter who hates the 2nd amendment is obviously a government shill. Freedom may originate in the heart but is instilled by the gun. Without arms, our hearts are no match for a tyrant government with all the weapons in the world to bring down upon us. THEY want us unarmed because without weapons we are as pliable as silly putty.
Why would a hunter be so anti-gun? What's funny is that the 2nd amendment protects a citizen's right to own arms for purpose of fighting a rogue government and NOT for a sport like hunting. Redneck hunters need to wise up - they're hurting more than helping these days.
Ya see, we're stuck with daddy's little girl as AG in Illinois, Lisa madigan, who's papa is one of the most powerful crooks, er, politicians in this state. She has no testicles, because she'e a female (maybe), but she has no guts to take on the most powerful munchkin, I mean mayor in the country, Richie Daley, who wants everyone to turn in their guns. The idiot doesn't realize that the BAD guys won't turn in THEIR guns, only the good people. What a moron. So, from the state that gave you Mubamba, who lives in the whitehouse, the guy who's closest associates are crooks and in prison, wacko radicals who tried to blow up police stations, our AG wouldn't sign that letter if her daddy's life depended on it. Yet, those idiot dumbocrats in this great state will re-elect the b**** because somneone convinced them that Abe Lincoln was a dumbocrat. Now, you know the whole story.
sure wish Iowa was on the list. No matter what there are enough free Iowans that will stand up for our rights and liberties. They will take my guns from my cold dead hands!!!
Okay mike, when the socialist goverment continues to take our freedoms, the ones with guns will be the only ones to resist. Tell me, do you really think what's in your heart will change a socialist politicians view on goverment? Not likely. Or rather can it stop a 5.56 bullet from ripping through your chest for protesting against the actions of the motherland that is becoming America? Your the narrow minded one.
Proud to see the AG here in Texas has our best interests in mind. The ban accomplished nothing the first time except restricting the rights of the law abiding.
"When it comes time to face others shooting back, you won't be so macho, because eventually you will be outgunned. " Gary, are you totally insane? What is the color of the sky on your planet? Some of us on this page have been in a "real firefight",and probably before you were out of school. we do know what it is to face an enemy. I as well dearly love this country and uphold our "rights...under God" and guaranteed by the second amendment...leave it alone.
Most everyone is talking about the 2nd Amendment, all but the law makers, do you think Washington is going to uphold that amendment,,,,,,, Wrong, wrong,,haven't you noticed, this bunch of nuts in Washington today don't obey or think they have laws they must follow. Have you heard any of them call on any amendment or constitution right that has been broken by this group of nuts. Many has been broken but no one knows or cares about the laws of our great Constitution of the United States of America. This constitution is laws for the PEOPLE of the United States. These laws must be inforce by the PEOPLE. This group don't even go by the rules and laws they made last week, little on some made over two hundred years ago. But we all know by now, the PEOPLE don't know what they need or what is good for them today, only the Government knows what's good for the PEOPLE. I'm starting to belive that, look at all the nuts the PEOPLE put in Washington. The US is the PEOPLE, not the Groverment.
Gary,
You think our freedom was won from England by what was in the people's hearts and not by the revolution? Do you think Europe was freed from fascism by what was in people's hearts, that Hitler and Mussolini just said "awe, that is so nice, lets lose this war" and not by being beaten in the war. I guess you think that the police don't needs guns either. As long as their hearts are "free" the criminals will just stop and go straight to Church. Even worse, calling people racist for supporting what our founding fathers saw as the most important right the people have because it guarantees all their other rights is as STUPID a thing as you will ever hear anyone say. And sure, you are a hunter. You are a liar. And a nitwit. And YOU are exactly what is wrong with this country.
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