i need some good tips, and somthing really brilliant to say so i dont sound stupid.  thanks guys. i think if we all write our poolitical leaders, then we can convence them of how stupid this ban is.  greatfully awaiting your sugjestions....

You can point out the following:

Firstly, "assault rifle" is a term coined by Nazi Germany ("Sturmgewehr") to describe their efforts to develop a more potent select-fire (full-auto) battle rifle based on the 7.9mm Kurz round in the 1940's.  As is known, the Nazis strove to deny arms to it's citizens before murdering over 6 million jews, gypsies, and political dissenters.  This is not a phenomenon we want in America, and is specifically the intent behind the Second Amendment.

In a study conducted by Congress, so-called Assault Weapons were responsible for less than 1% of all violent crime, yet were specifically banned by the so-called 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill.

The specific guns banned by the 1994 Crime Bill are still manufactured, just under different names and with subtley different features.  The end result is still effectively the same.

Some of the guns that became banned by the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill are the same guns used in the government run Civilian Marksmanship Program, where citizens are encourage to practice competitive marksmanship.  How can the government endorse an activity, yet ban the equipment necessary to participate?

Gun owners and rural Americans who may have voted for Gore were uncomfortable with his anti-gun rhetoric, and exit polls show that it cost him the election.  These are people who would have voted for him otherwise, and the move by the Democratic party to portray themselves as pro-gun shows they aknowledge it.  It should also be pointed out that many who voted for the 1994 AW Ban were ousted from their offices in the following elections by their constituents.

In a post-9/11 world, where people are uncertain about their safety, more of them are turning to firearms as a means of defense for themselves and their families.  Continuing to ban weapons that have been proven by Congressional research and real world situations to be effective in self-defense as well as being used in less than 1% of violent crime is ludicrous.

The 1994 Crime Bill is a Democrat invention of his predecessor, Slick Willy Klinton, which built upon by his father's own mistake in 1989, where by executive order he banned rifles and firearms from being imported because they had no "sporting use," even though that is in direct contradiction with U.S. vs. Miller (1933), where the Supreme Court ruled that arms suitable for military use were the type protected under the Second Amendment, as they could be used by the Militia in war.

There are other points as well.

Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas...

Good Job GBT.....

However, do we want to bring attention to the ban expiring?  

Let's hope it just quietly dies a coward's death as it deserves.

The only problem is that W. already knows it's coming up for expiration, and has stated he'll sign a continuation of the bill.  Now, that can mean either two things.

1: He doesn't think a new ban will ever make it to his desk and he's just giving lip service, which marginalizes his pro-gun supporters.  Certainly a bad thing considering the role anti-gun rhetoric played in the 2000 election, but possibly a calculated risk to gain more liberal to moderate appeal.

2: He really will sign any legislation that continues the ban.

However, if a new ban is going to be introduced, as the 1994 ban WILL sunset in 2004, look for it to be introduced in 2003, well ahead of the sunset date.  Allowing it to be an election year issue would be bad for the Republicans all around.  Supporting it offends their pro-gun supporters and burying it offends the swing voters.

Politically, if the Republicans are smart (and truly pro-gun), they'll introduce legislation of some sort that might continue the ban in a certain way, but in a looser form, say 3 or 4 evil features from the laundry list that makes a rifle an assault rifle instead of the two we have now.  And then it gets burried in committee or hitched with a posion rider like allowing new machine guns to be manufactured for civilians, and never reaches the president's desk, effectively doing away with the issue.

But then again, who can expect any career politician to be truly pro-gun?

Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas...

they know its coming and hoping that we will try and let it die without it bringing attintion.  LETS make a huge deal about it!  shine the spot light on how lawmakers are spending time energy and money on pointless things!