Posted on 10/20/2008 12:45:08 PM PDT by 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...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
From Table 1. Firearm Deaths in 2003
Total Firearm Deaths 30,136
Homicides 11,920 (39.6%)
IIRC, firarm homicides were about 14,000 last year. So total firearm homicides were about 50,000 since the end of the ban. You would need at least 500 dead from so called "assault weapons" to make one percent. This figure of 163 killed is about one third of one percent. Is this supposed to be significant?
P.S. Printer friendly was not reader friendly. You had to keep scrolling right and left in an oversized format for the Brady gang's story.
Mr. Brady, do you mean to tell me that NO ONE was killed by such weapons when the ban was in place?
Maybe they should just make murder illegal. Oh wait.
How many of these people were killed in gun free zones? I’m guessing more than half.
It would be useful to know what the prior four year period tally was. Also, since there was no mention made about who committed these killings, it must be assumed that they were not done by law abiding citizens but criminals who would have committed the crimes anyway and probably with the same assult weapons. More drival from the Brady Center and promoted by the MSM.
Every weapon is an assault weapon.............
Since it is only 210 or so people, including 38 cops, I’d like a list of those names so we can check.
This won’t be a problem under, “The One”, expect a knock on the door.
How many were killed in accidents?
How many were killed with weapons that were available while the ban was in effect? (My FAL was legal is I used an american made magazine!)
Here it comes again...
One veto away..
One supreme court justice away..
One Dem supermajority in Congress away..
How many people died in car wrecks?
How many people died of cuts from knives?
How many died from yard equipment, bathtub accidents, bicycle wrecks, etc?
***military-style semiautomatic assault weapons,***
I wasn’t aware that the military was using semiautomatic weapons. I thought they were full auto.
Since abortion lifted, 50 million dead!
How many of the same criminals would have done the same killings with either same or different weapon even if the “AW ban” were in place? How many deadly criminals really have much trouble getting ahold of firearms if they want to do so?
Great stats, Brady Center.
While you’re spewing them out, what’s the racial/ethnic/national origin/immigration status of the people using these awful weapons to commit these horrible crimes?
Just curious.
What’s the old saying “Statistics are like a string bikini-what they reveal is considerable, but what they conceal is crucial”.
abortion BAN lifted...
I hear ACORN compiles statistics for the Brady Bunch.
When I was doing a thesis on weapons bans, I found that Scotland was considering a ban on kitchen knives, because THAT is now the weapon of choice due to guns being banned.
Big deal...!!
The whole point of Barack Obama and the other Marxist Socialist Leftist's is to frame the argument to demonize ALL guns.......
I know it...and any thinking person knows it.
It's the same old thing...over and over again....
Symbolism over substance.
Period.
Do these stats include Sarah Brady’s attempt to illegally purchase a long gun for her underage son?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.