NRA endorsement of Bush is on hold

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.thehill.com/news/051204/nra.aspx

An influential gun-rights group known for backing Republicans is unlikely to endorse President Bush until after the federal assault-weapons ban expires in September.

Bush supports the renewal of the 10-year ban but has not called on the GOP-controlled Congress to act. If he does so, the move would probably cost him the endorsement of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Some political observers believe that the NRA’s endorsement is a certainty, pointing out the group’s stinging criticism of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

But gun-rights activists dispute the claim that Bush can count on the NRA’s support; the group remained neutral in 1992 and 1996. The NRA did not endorse Republican nominee Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential bid because of his wavering stance on the assault-weapons ban and opted not to back George H.W. Bush in his 1992 re-election effort. The NRA did endorse George W. Bush in 2000.

[MrBenchley]

1. They didn't endorse the pinhead in 2000 either...

By now, many voters see an NRA endorsement as the kiss of death...

[Warpy]

2. Not outside the big cities, they don't

Even Joe Suburbia wants his guns. The less likely he is to see anything that would require him to have a gun, the more he wants one, or several...

Assault weapons bans make a lot of sense to cops and ordinary citizens alike. The only people rabidly opposed are felons, hobbyists and the GUN INDUSTRY.

For hobbyists, I would suggest licensing gun clubs to rent these things out for use on the property firing ranges.

Felons and manufacturers can go cry me a river and jump in it.

[Thrill]

3. Why was he so quick to sign that Peterson

bill. But he hasn't yet signed the assault rifles band bill? Hasn't it passed both houses?