--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Assault Weapons Ban deals with a…" description: "\"The Assault Weapons Ban deals with a fictional distinction. You have guns that are exactly the same guns as are banned, in function, that were banned b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/alan-keyes-7078_amendment_the-assault-weapons-ban-deals-with-a-fic_2655157.jpg" --- # The Assault Weapons Ban deals with a fictional… ![“The Assault Weapons Ban deals with a fictional distinction. You have guns that are exactly the same guns as are banned, in function, that were banned because of the way they look. And you know, that's the whole truth of this policy: it's to make politicians look as if they are doing something…” quote by Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/alan-keyes-7078_amendment_the-assault-weapons-ban-deals-with-a-fic_2655157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/alan-keyes-7078_amendment_the-assault-weapons-ban-deals-with-a-fic_2655157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/alan-keyes-7078_amendment_the-assault-weapons-ban-deals-with-a-fic_2655157.jpg) > “The Assault Weapons Ban deals with a fictional distinction. You have guns that are exactly the same guns as are banned, in function, that were banned because of the way they look. And you know, that's the whole truth of this policy: it's to make politicians look as if they are doing something, when in point of fact, they are doing nothing.” [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Assault Weapons Ban is symbolic, focusing on appearance rather than function, offering political show over real impact. **In simple terms:** Ban is symbolic, not effective. Key Takeaway Seek substantive solutions over symbolism. Themes policy symbolism ineffectiveness Mood critical analytical Type political inquisitive When to use this quote - legislative debates - advocacy - public policy - community safety Key Concepts politics gun control Questions to Reflect On - What real solutions could replace the ban? - How can policy address both symbolism and function? A Different Perspective Symbolic actions may still have indirect effects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Assault weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault-weapons/) [Assault weapons ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault-weapons-ban/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Doing nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Whole truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-truth/) ## Related quotes > [President Bush said he didn't want to renew the Assault Weapons Ban because it might 'infringe on hunters' rights'. Who needs an AK-47 machine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/president-bush-said-he-didn-t-want-to-renew-the-assault-weapons-ban/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [The so-called assault weapons ban is a hoax. It is a political appeal to the ignorant. The guns it supposedly banned have been illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/the-so-called-assault-weapons-ban-is-a-hoax-it-is-a-political-appeal/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Our supportfor assault weapons ban is very broad...I think we've got all the police, we have all the mayors virtually - the conference of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/our-supportfor-assault-weapons-ban-is-very-broad-i-think-we-ve-got/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [I've come to the conclusion that military style weapons really don't have any place in our society. We ought to reinstate the assault weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-udall/i-ve-come-to-the-conclusion-that-military-style-weapons-really-don-t/) [Mark Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-udall/) > [Assault weapons ban reintroduced...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/assault-weapons-ban-reintroduced/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Passing a law like the assault weapons ban is a symbolic - purely symbolic - move in that direction. Its only real justification is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/passing-a-law-like-the-assault-weapons-ban-is-a-symbolic-purely/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [The fights I fought... cost a lot --the fight for the assault-weapons ban cost 20 members their seats in Congress. The NRA is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-fights-i-fought-cost-a-lot-the-fight-for-the-assault-weapons-ban/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Impeach President Reagan retroactively for agreeing with Obama on the assault weapons ban.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fugelsang/impeach-president-reagan-retroactively-for-agreeing-with-obama-on-the/) [John Fugelsang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fugelsang/) > [This is a matter of vital importance to the public safety ... While we recognize that assault-weapon legislation will not stop all assault-weapon crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/this-is-a-matter-of-vital-importance-to-the-public-safety-while-we/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [And it's time as a country that we have an assault weapon ban.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/and-it-s-time-as-a-country-that-we-have-an-assault-weapon-ban/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [ I think that we should ban so-called junk guns. I think we should ban assault weapons like the weapons used here \[in Fort Worth\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-that-we-should-ban-so-called-junk-guns-i-think-we-should-ban/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I supported the assault weapon ban.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-supported-the-assault-weapon-ban/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Reinstating the federal assault weapons ban that was in effect from 1994 to 2004 would prohibit manufacture and sales, but it would not affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/reinstating-the-federal-assault-weapons-ban-that-was-in-effect-from/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [I don't support any gun-control legislation - the effort for a new assault-weapons ban, with a ban on semiautomatic weapons, is something I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-don-t-support-any-gun-control-legislation-the-effort-for-a-new/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [What we do in Connecticut is ban assault weapons. We ban high-capacity magazines. We have true universal background checks, and we require everybody to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/what-we-do-in-connecticut-is-ban-assault-weapons-we-ban-high-capacity/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) ## More by Alan Keyes > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Selfish hedonism is not a pejorative. It is a description - an exactly accurate description of what is involved in homosexual relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/selfish-hedonism-is-not-a-pejorative-it-is-a-description-an-exactly/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [I read American sagas (of the west) and I do not see people who went in search of material things. I see people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-read-american-sagas-of-the-west-and-i-do-not-see-people-who-went-in/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [God's irony, that in order to fight and defeat the threat of terrorism, we shall have to be clear about the principle of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/god-s-irony-that-in-order-to-fight-and-defeat-the-threat-of-terrorism/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Christ is the very epitome of innocence, and without the blood of Christ, shed on Calvary, God's plan of salvation would not have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/christ-is-the-very-epitome-of-innocence-and-without-the-blood-of/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Where do find the most persecuted Christians in the world?... in the classrooms of our government schools, where the assault is not upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/where-do-find-the-most-persecuted-christians-in-the-world-in-the/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [We must reject dictatorship in whatever form it takes--and especially when it rears its head in our own midst on the bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/we-must-reject-dictatorship-in-whatever-form-it-takes-and-especially/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [The heart of government, coated with whatever velvet gloves you want to put on it, is a mailed fist of force and coercion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/the-heart-of-government-coated-with-whatever-velvet-gloves-you-want/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [I feel like we're between two great possibilities: we're either going to turn things around, and in this generation see the rising sun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-feel-like-we-re-between-two-great-possibilities-we-re-either-going/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [I accept the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, to represent the State of Illinois.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-accept-the-republican-nomination-for-the-u-s-senate-to-represent/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Rights don't come from human documents. The very idea is only worthy of contempt. Human documents are nothing but pieces of paper, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/rights-don-t-come-from-human-documents-the-very-idea-is-only-worthy/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [A conservative party that reshapes its self-presentation according to the suggestions of the liberal media, of course, may very well get what such lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-conservative-party-that-reshapes-its-self-presentation-according-to/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Christ would not vote for Barack Obama because Barack Obama has voted to behave in a way that it is inconceivable for Christ to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/christ-would-not-vote-for-barack-obama-because-barack-obama-has-voted/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Freedom does not mean doing what you can get away with, doing what you please. It means, instead, having the opportunity to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/freedom-does-not-mean-doing-what-you-can-get-away-with-doing-what-you/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [The fundamental premise of liberalism is the moral incapacity of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/the-fundamental-premise-of-liberalism-is-the-moral-incapacity-of-the/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) [Explore all 95 Alan Keyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. 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