As a front page post notes, the Ban on Assault Weapons was scheduled to expire in September 2004. During the 2000 campaign (as part of his successful attempt to portray himself as a moderate) Bush promised to sign an extension of the 10-year ban on assault weapons. When the time came, however, Bush let the Ban expire, and Kerry responded forcefully:
Why didn't you ask, Mr. President?" Kerry asked, surrounded by police officers and gun violence victims at a community center here. "Why didn't you fight for it?"
The answer, Kerry said, is that Bush caved to the NRA. "It is a test of character," he said. "In a secret deal, he chose his powerful friends in the gun lobby over the police officers and families that he promised to protect." He said Bush has made it easier for terrorists to do their jobs and harder for police to do theirs.
This is not a right to bear arms issue. Even if the Second Amendment does guaranty the right to bear arms, like any other fundamental right, it can be limited to protect a compelling state interest.
What more compelling state interest can there be than preventing mass murder by a lunatic or person incited by right wing violent rhetoric.