Ghillieman,
You are reading things into my response that are simply not there. I never said some guns were designed to kill while others weren't. It is simply a matter of WHAT they are designed to kill. You point about knives largely supports what I've said all along, which is that someone that wants to commit a violent crime will find a way.
As for my foolish quote, perhaps you should re-read my post. I talked about my preference or lack thereof for assault rifles. I never said I could care less about your right to own an assault rifle. In fact, I even say outright in that same post that I support your individual choice to own whatever sort of firearms you choose to own. And in my post prior to that one, I again talk about the right to own whatever firearms one chooses. That's what freedom is all about, individual liberty. Of course I recognize our common interests in freedom to own all types of firearms. I also agree that there are those that would use banning assault rifles as a first step to completely eradicate firearms and hunting from our society altogether. So please do not confuse my preferences for lack of concern.
The original intent when posting my comments was to challenge the idea that assault rifles were no different than other types of rifles. I don't want to go through it again, but if you want to challenge my argument please feel free. I would just ask that you read my post about the matter more carefully and do not misquote me.
Finally, my other point was that from my understanding of the Democratic party and the American political machine, the AWB simply doesn't stand a chance. There will always be radicals on the left and right that introduce outlandish bills. That doesn't mean it will see a vote on the floor of our congress. I think it is self evident that the AWB was a spectacular failure. I think most, not all but most, politicians acknowledge this. Combine this with the fact that conservative Republicans were replaced by conservative Democrats this past election cycle and it makes absolutely no sense that a bill like an new AWB would even make it past commitee. So it's my position that the AWB will never be law again. That's just my opinion.
Joking aside the debate may be over whether the bill would even be constitutional and if not whether it would be struck down by the courts. From the sounds of the extent of the bill, it seems to overstep the boundaries that the US SUpreme Court has placed on restricting gun ownership. The courts have been pretty clear about an individual's right to own firearms and right to own firearms for self defense. What isn't so clear is what kinds and types of firearms can be owned. When the founding fathers wrote the second amendment they were all using smokepoles. 
I still believe we need to keep a close eye on the committee debates and see how far this goes. If it makes it past the first round of debates and progresses on to a general debate on the congressional floor, there could be trouble brewing. 
