In defense of President Bush on the subject of blaming him for the expiration of the assault weapons ban, please note below that he was for an extension. BUt besides that, it's our congressional leaders both Republican and Democrat who did not initiate an extension of the ban. Blame the Congress, not Bush!



The issue has become a hot potato in a presidential election year, with President Bush and Sen. John Kerry taking positions designed not to infuriate voters on either side of the debate. Bush has said he supports an extension, but gun control advocates accuse him of failing to pressure Congress into action. Kerry has announced his support for extending the ban, even as his campaign has sought to boost the Democratic presidential nominee's credentials as a gun owner and hunter.

Republican congressional leaders say the ban will be allowed to lapse because gun control advocates in the House and Senate do not have enough votes to extend it. They may be right. Most Republicans in Congress oppose an extension, and Democrats are far from united in support of preserving the ban. Democrats representing rural areas have kept mum on the issue, perhaps mindful of their constituents' sensitivity to gun control measures. In addition, some Democrats believe their support of the assault weapons ban cost them control of the House and Senate in 1994, and that the gun control issue hurt Al Gore's standing in key states during the 2000 presidential election.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/guns/