10-Year Federal Ban on Assault Weapons Ends Today
In 1994, President Clinton signed into law the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which outlawed 19 types of military-style weapons like AK-47s, Uzi’s and Tec-9s. The Ban was to expire after 10 years if Congress did not reauthorize it.
That day of expiration is today.
Congress did not reauthorize.
And, now, weapons previously banned can flood the gun market freely and enter our streets, exacerbating the already catastrophic culture of gun violence in this country.
According to the most recent statistics from the Center for Disease Control, eight young people under the age of 19 are shot and killed each day and 20,000 people each year. Opening up channels for bigger and more dangerous weaponry does not seem to us like a solution to this growing problem.
Police officers have joined anti-gun advocates in calling for reauthorization, citing the detrimental effect the lapse will have on their efforts to combat crime and even terrorism. Other gun advocates use the Washington, DC area “Sniper Shootings” as prime examples of the dangers posed by the weapons now allowable by law (or lack of law, as it is).
President Bush has said, if the renewal passed Congress he would sign it; but he hasn’t really asked Congress to pass it, which has John Kerry up in arms. Democrats and Republicans in Congress are both said to be dormant on the issue in an effort to woo gun owners in swing states. It’s unfortunate because gun violence, especially among America’s youth, goes well beyond electoral politics. It is a matter of health and public safety.
Gun violence has a disproportionate effect on young people’s lives, and it is vital for you to find out exactly how both candidates for President and your candidates for the House and Senate feel about the Ban, its possible reauthorization, and about gun rights in general.
That day of expiration is today.
Congress did not reauthorize.
And, now, weapons previously banned can flood the gun market freely and enter our streets, exacerbating the already catastrophic culture of gun violence in this country.
According to the most recent statistics from the Center for Disease Control, eight young people under the age of 19 are shot and killed each day and 20,000 people each year. Opening up channels for bigger and more dangerous weaponry does not seem to us like a solution to this growing problem.
Police officers have joined anti-gun advocates in calling for reauthorization, citing the detrimental effect the lapse will have on their efforts to combat crime and even terrorism. Other gun advocates use the Washington, DC area “Sniper Shootings” as prime examples of the dangers posed by the weapons now allowable by law (or lack of law, as it is).
President Bush has said, if the renewal passed Congress he would sign it; but he hasn’t really asked Congress to pass it, which has John Kerry up in arms. Democrats and Republicans in Congress are both said to be dormant on the issue in an effort to woo gun owners in swing states. It’s unfortunate because gun violence, especially among America’s youth, goes well beyond electoral politics. It is a matter of health and public safety.
Gun violence has a disproportionate effect on young people’s lives, and it is vital for you to find out exactly how both candidates for President and your candidates for the House and Senate feel about the Ban, its possible reauthorization, and about gun rights in general.
posted by Anonymous at 7:00 PM
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