Franken Clarifies: I Support A Reinstatement Of Assault Weapons Ban

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



TOM KLUDT 10:55 AM EST, THURSDAY JANUARY 17, 2013

Responding to a report Thursday that suggested otherwise, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) made it clear in a statement that he supports "the principle that we should reinstate a ban on assault weapons" and said he "will carefully review any proposal to do that."

A story in the Post-Bulletin of Rochester, Minn. quoted a Franken spokesman who said he didn't "have an answer" on whether the Democrat supported a ban. The report also suggested that Franken did not mention an assault weapons ban when he rattled off the list of his favored White House gun control proposals during a Wednesday press avail in Rochester.

But a Franken aide told TPM that the junior senator from Minnesota has "consistently supported" a reinstatement to the ban, and that the junior senator from Minnesota was actually not aware of President Barack Obama's exact proposals due to scheduling conflicts on Wednesday.

"He was in a meeting yesterday morning during the President’s press conference and then held a press avail directly after the meeting concluded, prior to being informed of the President’s proposals," the aide told TPM in an email Thursday.

-snip-


Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/franken-clarifies-i-support-reinstatement-of-assault-weapons?ref=fpb

[SunSeeker]

1. Good. I gave money to Al and will again.

[Jokerman]

2. So he waited for the facts before issuing a statement?

Way to go Al!

[benEzra]

3. So far, it doesn't seem that a straight-up reinstatement is being considered.

The original 1994 AWB banned no guns, allowed unlimited import of extant STANAG and Warsaw Pact magazines, allowed the free sale and transfer of existing stockpiles of over-10-round pistol magazines, and allowed continued sales of civilian AK's and AR-15 type rifles as long as they had nonadjustable stocks and whatnot. That is not what Feinstein et al are currently proposing.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Way to go Al,

knew that piece of Yellow Journalism Rag out of Rethug land Rochester,would Fauxe News a story about Al. This newspaper just ran hit piece after hit piece on Al last time around. Watch for the afore mentioned fake letters to the Editor to hit tomorrow.

Time to cut another check to Al's campaign.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. going to see him on Sunday (Green Ball). I will thank him for

his support

[Rowdyboy]

6. Now that he has cleared up the spokespersons mistake, can we move on? Franken is one of the few

Senators with an actual spine.

[samsingh]

7. kick