Sources from Washington are telling me that President-Elect Obama may move forward on an Assault Weapons/Magazine Capacity Ban ASAP — maybe as soon as later this January.
Jim Shepherd at the SHOOTING WIRE is this morning also reporting similar rumors. This from Jim:
Despite the new administration's insistence that jobs and the economy will be the top priority beginning January 20, insiders say payback to the NRA and other pro-Second Amendment groups is high on the agenda. Democratic advisors say the Republican party is "disorganized, disheartened, and dissolving" and it's a good time for the incoming administration to take them on in a core issue - the assault weapons ban is one of three topics they're evaluating.Here is the insider reasoning as explained to me:
If the AWB is chosen, everyone expects a pitched battle with no quarter given.
If the attempt to pass this drastically-expanded AWB succeeds, the administration will have proven itself virtually unbeatable in matters of policy. They will also further fracture the Republican party and simultaneously serve notice on any pro-gun Democrats that they'd better get with the new program, too.
1) Obama has taken a beating from the moonbat Left since they learned they elected the third Clinton administration instead of the Messiah; he needs to do something to rebuild his left-wing cred.
2) He has no, or very limited moves, on the economy; he can't raise taxes in the face of this brutal recession; it's awkward to pull troops out of a war that's apparently won; global warming has fallen off the radar as the snow continues to pile up...he needs a big flashy move, and we may well be that move.
3) The Republicans are disspirited and disorganized. The Blue Dog Dems are less likely to band together this early in his administration against an Obama move, lest they open themselves to a flaying by the faithful. The one Western Dem who might have proved a rallying point, Ken Salazar of Colorado, was tapped to head the Department of the Interior and taken out of play.
4) The gun lobby is as weak now as it is ever going to be during Obama's administration.
5) Obama has the opportunity to woo the few remaining Bush Republicans — remember, Bush always said he'd sign a new AWB — that a new AWB is "common-sense legislation."
6) Sources close to the Obama Transition Team acknowledge that a new AWB would burn a huge amount of political capital, but it will "drive a stake in the ground" to prove Obama means what he says about "change" regardless of consequences.
We can assume a huge spin-up from Brady and the VPC, with their fellow travelers in the MSM, leading the charge. On our side, the industry is moving at warp speed to finish preparations for the upcoming fight. At the very least, this is going to cost a fortune. If you are not now a member of the NRA, join. And be ready to open your wallets...yes, there's a recession and we're all hurting, but that is exactly what our enemies are betting on!
23 comments:
Any idea what direction this will take? If I have money to spend, should I assume I can still get ammo after this ban, or should I stock up on ammo for existing weapons?
The big problem is it two years till the voter get to take their Congressman to task for voting for a new AWB. Most elected officials know that American voters have very short memories. 2A voters are the exception.
If the election was a couple of months away, the bill would never see the light of day.
Buy guns, buy magazines and buy ammo. I predict a loss for us on this one.
Ratcatcher55
I wonder how many people who fancied themselves to be pro-2nd Amendment Obama supporters will feel surprised when and if anti-2nd Amendment legislation is rammed down our throats.
More specifically, I wonder how many of my fellow NRA members stupidly voted for Obama.
At this point, my only rational hope is that Obama's term will be such a fiasco that he will not get a second term--but not such a fiasco that the country will be irreparably damaged.
:(
FAR FAR more needful of attention is the war against ammunition.
Walmart's shelves are almost EMPTY except in weird calibers and tho they SAY they're gonna restock I'd be very surprised if the price wasn't WAY higher after Jan 20 if they ever DO restock. Higher unit cost or taxes it doesn't matter which. Remember there's no need to ban guns if you can just render the ammo too expensive to feed them.
Remember as well that with a filibuster-proof Dem Congress working in concert with a Dem Pres. Things can change VERY fast and there's no reason to act stupid and believe that they're not already working on blitzkreig legislation to put in effect immediately ASAP after the 21st.
Stock up now WW while it's cheap AND (possibly) while it's stil available.
*See you in the ammo aisle*
I think wally world is waiting to see if microstamping is going to come with the awb, states all around Oklahoma are proposing it as we speak. If I understand things, alot is going to limited to a 5 round capacity. Pistols included. My Marlin 60, 15 round 22L.R. is on the list. The best we can hope for is high caps being grandfathered in. I'm honestly afraid gun registry is next. I also wonder how many of the 80 mil. gun owners in this country voted for Obama without realizing what they were doing, or for that matter the 20 mil. NRA members. I started stocking ammo months ago because I knew it would dry up, especially defense rounds. Bend over boy's, here it comes.
Ah Hem!
Heard this from me early in November. Everything else is sticky. This is an easy pass and will raise him back to messiah status.
Batten down the hatches.
I would bet that imported mil-surp ammo will be banned ASAP by Executive Order...so the days of cheap 8mm, corrosive 7.62x39, 7.62x54 (and the biggest blow, since it is not loaded commercially here in the US) 5.45x39. AK74 owners, buy it while you can!
Anyone have any idea what Mr. Shepherd's track record is on making political predictions? I've never heard of him so I have no clue. His use of anonymous sources doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the accuracy of his assertions, in my mind.
Old Libertarian...Jim and I both use anonymous sources because people are going out on a limb to bring us info from inside the Obama camp...Jim is a veteran Washington journalist and I have 30 years in journalism.
Is our information 100%? No...but I won't go with info that I don't think is at least 75%, and Jim has similar standards. People talk to us because they know we'll cover their butts.
I wish my info was WORSE...
Michael B
Don't blame walmart, it is the ammo mfg who got caught short. I got a major mfg customer service person to admit that management, the three headed dog, reduced their inventory levels earlier this year. And the same is true from Nebraska, but at least Minnesota can give me expected dates when they will run enough to ship me some.
Right now I suspect everyone is out of brass and bullets. One specialty company I buy 6.8 from is out of one bullet weight till March!
In the week of and after the election I did FIVE TO SIX times my normal internet ammo business, and the same for mag's. I have averaged four times my normal sales every week since then.
I've deal with four major national distributor's and each has told me ammo, mags and EBR's are basically on allocation. They call and either you take it or they call the next guy who will.
I am out of .270 Win 130gr, 150gr .308, .30-06 & .30-30 in every brand. Along with most other hunting loads. Shotgun slugs and buckshot along with pistol ammo is hit or miss.
And now thanks to this it's only going to get worse.
We live in interesting times. I HATE interesting, it just means something is screwed somewhere.
Dude, not to be an A-hole or anything, but people may give you more credibility if you knew how to spell "piranha" correctly.
I think if they pass such a ban we should enact civil disobedience.
How? What?
Simple...keep selling and buying such arms. Let the BATF and Obama administration have to deal with 50,000 cases and lawsuits.
..... and take out the opposition as needed!!!!! However, whenever....
Michael, I'm afraid you are correct on this issue, for all the reasons you have stated.
This administration is not about substance, it's about appearance. A permenant AWB would give the appearance of having done something in a game of smoke and mirrors.
the only thing i'm opening my wallet for is more ammo.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Just a humble suggestion here...
If you haven't already got yourself plugged in to a networked, mutually supportive community of like-minded people, now might be a good time to do that. If you're willing to drop your preconceived, media-induced notions, you can to that at http://www.awrm.org.
Peace,
Flick
Goto AWRM.org to check out some of the ways you can help combat this situation.
I just rejoined the NRA (I had regrettably let my membership lapse a year ago), and splurged for a two year membership.
Mind you, the NRA gets a lot of flak from other gun orgs, but when it gets right down to it, when they say "gun lobby" they mean NRA.
They aren't perfect, but nobody is.
Now I'm gonna go buy more mags, more accessories, more ammo!
And I dare Obama and his thugs to take them away from me.
Henry Bowman says:
You'll know the brunt of the anti-gun operation is about to begin when another horrendous, Columbine-type event occurs. The Hoplophobes need an incident like this to hang their mania on.
Have any of you heard of taking the offensive? We need to let the pro-gun in congress know that we are ready to support them financially if they stick with shooters and oppose any gun legislation. Shooters need to remind them of the countless people who have gotten concealed carry permits over the last several yrs. and the growing number of women involved in the shooting sports.
Shooters cannot take the buy, buy, buy approach to resolving the ammo problem. How much ammo would be enough if there isn't anymore available? No one is capable of buying anywhere near enough if you're a real competitive shooter or even if you just enjoy casual plinking.
Shooters have to take the offensive and be willing to fight back with their wallets or Obama will win.
I've been a huge proponent to PURCHASE RELOADING SUPPLIES! ! Since we're already expecting/predicting a shortage on these 'cheap, milsurp, corrosive,etc' caliberts (7.62x 39/54/25) -- get out there and start buying up brass, primers, and powder. While you're at it - get yourself a lead-melting pot and molds. I have been reloading good-quality 7.62x25/39/54 with hard-cast rounds (wheel weights from jiffy-lube-ya and other tire places). Start pressing ammo and start sealing/storing it. I grew up in Southern FL and remember ONE thing: when the storms approaching, you STOCK UP. Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it. (nods approvingly)
*calibers . sticky 't' on my keyboard.
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