Since Assault Weapons Ban Lifted, At Least 163 Dead, 185 Wounded, 15 Police Officers Dead, 23...

Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence ^ | Oct 9, 2008 | NA

[neverdem]

Since Assault Weapons Ban Lifted, At Least 163 Dead, 185 Wounded, 15 Police Officers Dead, 23 Wounded

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Peter Hamm of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, +1-202-898-0792

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the four years since the federal assault weapons ban expired on September 15, 2004, at least 163 people have been killed and 185 wounded with military-style semiautomatic assault weapons, including at least 38 police officers killed or wounded, according to a report being issued today by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Restrictions on assault weapons, which drew support from Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, have been addressed by both major candidates for President: "Senator Barack Obama has stated as recently as his convention acceptance speech that it is imperative that criminals be denied the use of assault weapons," the report says. "Senator John McCain, who has opposed the NRA on gun shows and other issues, has been firm in his opposition to an assault weapon ban."

The report outlines how the availability of assault weapons has altered the balance of power on urban streets between police and criminals, endangering police officers and causing a growing number of police departments to use assault weapons to match the firepower they face. The report also explores the ties between terrorism and assault weapons.

"Our communities are less safe today than they were four years ago, when devastating weapons like AK-47s were not as easily available to thugs and other dangerous people," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Center. "We urge policymakers to take action now to get these weapons off the streets."

The Brady Center report is entitled Mass Produced Mayhem, a phrase used by federal law enforcement officials to describe the guns back...

[U.S.overallothers]

and how many people were killed by assault weapons under the ban?

the people who follow the gun laws are statistically the ones who don’t commit crimes

the bad elements of society are always going to out gun the non criminal elements if the laws are harsh on the only the law abiding citizens