I just read Arianna Huffington's article and if her numbers are factual and true then John Kerry would be crazy not to jump all over this.
Quote from the article:
"After all, recent polls show that over 70 percent of Americans support keeping the ban on the books. So does every major police organization in the country. Even 64 percent of gun owners support the ban, realizing that outlawing weapons that feature flash suppressors, silencers, folding stocks, bayonet mounts and large-capacity ammo magazines is not an attack on the Second Amendment — it's self-preservation."We already know that John Kerry has no hope of getting the NRA endorsement. So he doesn't have much to lose but everything to gain.
Also Kerry said
this:
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said that Americans have "no right to have access to the weapons of war in the streets of America." He criticized President Bush for not doing enough to promote an extension of the ban.
"When he ran for president in 2000, President Bush promised the American people he would work to renew the assault weapons ban," Kerry said. "But now, under pressure, he is walking away from that commitment."
Commercial Idea (would air after the ban is lifted):
*black screen appears with white text with silence asking: "Are you safe?"*
*After a few seconds cut to John Kerry leaning against a desk in a oval office-esk room, holding a AK-47*
*John Kerry smiles at the Camera then begins to speak*
*in a nonchalant informational tone*
"Did you know that President George W. Bush did nothing to prevent the assault weapons ban from being lifted? Weapons like this one."
*John Kerry pauses and holds up the AK-47 for the viewer to see, but not covering his face, and then continues to speak*
"The lifting of that ban is allowing weapons of war, like this one I hold here, to fall into the hands of terrorists and others that may wish you harm. Did you know that almost one out of every five police officers who are killed in the line of duty are killed as a result of weapons like this one? And did you know that most Americans supported the Assault Weapons ban? This President has played Russian Roulette with our safety."
*small pause and continue with determined voice*
"This will not happen in my America. I will reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban."
*pause*
"My name is John Kerry."
*Pause for dramatic effect, while flashing a confident smile toward the camera*
"And I support this message."
:P