# Reid Admits No Support For "Assault Weapons" Ban **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 19, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402 "2013-03-19T22:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/221 "2013-03-26T19:15:57Z")
Perhaps if the BATF had a director, some of the abuses wouldn’t be happening. And there will never be another permanent director until such time as the Democrats have 60 Senate seats or filibuster rules change. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/222 "2013-03-26T19:17:19Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Overpaid, unprofessional incompetent people seem to be at every level of the BATF. Unlike, well, where? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/223 "2013-04-17T22:58:09Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You do realize that ALL of that legislation is headed for the trash heap, including background checks, right? Polls show that 91% of Americans favor universal background checks, yet these yabbos are most likely going to vote against it because they’re fucking cowards. I take no pleasure in saying “I told you so” (3/20/13). ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/224 "2013-04-18T01:24:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You do realize that ALL of that legislation is headed for the trash heap, including background checks, right? Polls show that 91% of Americans favor universal background checks, yet these yabbos are most likely going to vote against it because they’re fucking cowards. “We don’t put civil rights to a popular vote.” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/225 "2013-04-18T01:26:21Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > “We don’t put civil rights to a popular vote.” You have no civil right to buy guns without a background check. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/226 "2013-04-18T06:32:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You have no civil right to buy guns without a background check. You don’t have the votes to force the creation of a national firearms registration. You don’t have the votes to force firearm owners to report their lost or stolen firearms to AG Eric Holder’s office within 24 hours of discovering the loss. Poorly written bills shouldn’t be passed into law. Reid/Obama didn’t have the votes in the Senate and didn’t have the support of the people to pass “these” particular bills. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/227 "2013-04-18T06:52:17Z")
No one here really believes that 91% of the people wanted their Senators to vote for the Manchin-Toomey bill, do they? Certainly the 46 Senators that voted “nay” don’t believe it. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/228 "2013-04-18T07:02:10Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You have no civil right to buy guns without a background check. It appears that 46 Senators disagree … ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/229 "2013-04-18T07:14:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > No one here really believes that 91% of the people wanted their Senators to vote for the Manchin-Toomey bill, do they? Certainly the 46 Senators that voted “nay” don’t believe it. A lot of it depends on how its phrased and packaged-for example the provisions of Obamacare are all quite popular but Obamacare itself is not because people think it will result in death panels and people waiting five years to get chemotherapy. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/230 "2013-04-18T11:38:50Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > It appears that 46 Senators disagree … The minority is wrong again. What a shock. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/231 "2013-04-18T11:42:31Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > You don’t have the votes to force the creation of a national firearms registration. Manchin-Toomey specifically forbid the creation of a national firearms registry. > [@](#): > > You don’t have the votes to force firearm owners to report their lost or stolen firearms to AG Eric Holder’s office within 24 hours of discovering the loss. Another fabrication spread by the NRA. If you can’t beat 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit. You’ve been baffled. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/232 "2013-04-18T12:07:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You do realize that ALL of that legislation is headed for the trash heap, including background checks, right? Polls show that 91% of Americans favor universal background checks, yet these yabbos are most likely going to vote against it because they’re fucking cowards. > … > I take no pleasure in saying “I told you so” (3/20/13). It’s not b/c they are cowards but because they are corrupted and US political system is corrupted. You think Senate voted for resolution to assist Israel when it attacks Iran because they are courages? > **[Senate c'tee: US will aid Israel if it strikes Iran](https://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/US-Senate-ctee-US-will-assist-Israel-if-it-attacks-Iran-310011)** > > Resolution to provide diplomatic, economic, military support to Israel if it strikes Iran adopted by Senate Foreign Relations C'tee. /\* interesting that this “courageous” news cannot be found or easily located in any of major US news outlets It’s quite entertaining that Senate is more interested in another war than safety of their own citizens. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/233 "2013-04-18T14:34:07Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > A lot of it depends on how its phrased and packaged-for example the provisions of Obamacare are all quite popular but Obamacare itself is not They’re not “all” quite popular, are they? I thought the bit about the individual mandate kept reliably getting the big no. Eh, there’s little point in a hijack. The important thing is, I’ll be celebrating today’s victory for individual rights, and remembering well at the next election. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/234 "2013-04-18T14:34:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > The minority is wrong again. What a shock. Minority of the Senate. I’m confident it’s a majority of the House. Oh, and apparently only a minority of the American people want them to make gun laws more strict: > [@](#): > > Should gun laws in the United States be made more strict, less strict or remain as they are? > > 49% = More strict > 38% = Remain as they are > 10% = Less strict > 1% = Unsure > 1% = Refused [Source](http://pollingreport.com/guns.htm) > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Manchin-Toomey specifically forbid the creation of a national firearms registry.Another fabrication spread by the NRA. If you can’t beat 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit. You’ve been baffled. S. 649 definitely requires lost and stolen reporting to the Attorney General. > [@](#): > > It shall be unlawful for any person who lawfully possesses or owns a firearm … to fail to report the theft or loss of the firearm, within 24 hours after the person discovers the theft or loss, to the Attorney General and to the appropriate local authorities. [Source](http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/649/text) I’d just as soon not report _my_ lost or stolen guns to Eric “ships-guns-to-drug-cartels” Holder. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/235 "2013-04-18T14:47:53Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > S. 649 definitely requires lost and stolen reporting to the Attorney General. Manchin-Toomey did not, though. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/236 "2013-04-18T14:52:08Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Minority of the Senate. I’m confident it’s a majority of the House. Oh, and apparently only a minority of the American people want them to make gun laws more strict: Most Americans think background checks are already required for all gun purchases. So when those who responded, “stay the same” it means they want universal background checks. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/237 "2013-04-18T15:23:04Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > **Most Americans think background checks are already required for all gun purchases**. So when those who responded, “stay the same” it means they want universal background checks. That’s an awfully favorable interpretation of the poll. Got a cite for the bolded portion? I’d think all the talk about “a bill to require universal background checks” would come across as awfully confusing for “most Americans” if they believed it were already the law … ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/238 "2013-04-18T16:41:37Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Manchin-Toomey specifically forbid the creation of a national firearms registry.Another fabrication spread by the NRA. If you can’t beat 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit. You’ve been baffled. I read the bill. Where did you get your misinformation from? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/239 "2013-04-18T18:57:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > You don’t have the votes to force firearm owners to report their lost or stolen firearms to AG Eric Holder’s office within 24 hours of discovering the loss. > > Another fabrication spread by the NRA. If you can’t beat 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit. You’ve been baffled. **HurricaneDitka** already provided the cite to Sec. 123 of S.649: > [@](#): > > It shall be unlawful for any person who lawfully possesses or owns a firearm that has been shipped or transported in, or has been possessed in or affecting, interstate or foreign commerce, to fail to report the theft or loss of the firearm, within 24 hours after the person discovers the theft or loss, to the Attorney General and to the appropriate local authorities. How is that claim a fabrication, when the language is clearly there? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402/240 "2013-04-18T18:58:28Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > \*\*Most Americans think background checks are already required for all gun purchases. \*\* So when those who responded, “stay the same” it means they want universal background checks. Cite for the bolded claim? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reid-admits-no-support-for-assault-weapons-ban/653402.md?page=13)