Posted on 12/23/2004 11:56:58 AM PST by Roos_Girl
The 1994 assault-weapons ban has expired, and our nation is again vulnerable to guns known to most in the law enforcement community as "the weapons of choice for criminals."
The Federal Assault Weapons Act was passed by Congress in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and signed into law by President Clinton on September 13, 1994. I am proud to be the author of H.R. 5099, reinstating the assault-weapons ban. My legislation will make Florida and the nation safer.
In contrast, the House leadership opposed reauthorizing the 1994 Assault Weapons Act and President Bush, though he had said he supported it, did nothing to help keep the law alive. Because the president steadfastly refused to put his leadership where his mouth is and help renew the ban, it has expired without so much as a vote in the House of Representatives.
No vote. No debate. The GOP-led Congress let the clock run out. in their negligence and irresponsibility, Congress has failed you. They have brought back to America's neighborhoods weapons of war to threaten police officers and law-abiding citizens.
There is no reason why we should let assault weapons back on the streets. Do people need an assault weapon to protect their home? No! Do people need an assault weapon to hunt? No! Do people need an assault weapon to target shoot? No! Semiautomatic weapons are killing machines with absolutely no positive value in any sensible community, and lifting this ban has put these weapons of death back in the hands of criminals.
The Assault Weapons Act has respected the rights of gun owners. As a gun owner, I am for sensible gun laws that do not take away the legal rights of individuals to have guns for recreational purposes, and personal protection. However, because of the assault-weapons ban, only criminals and terrorists have been kept from their guns of choice. From 1995 to 2000, 660 assault weapons were traced to crime scenes in Florida, according to the Federal Bureaus of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
Moreover, a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey published in November 2001 reported that almost 7 percent of state inmates and more than 9 percent of federal inmates used military-style semiautomatic weapons in carrying out the crime for which they were convicted. In 1997, roughly 43 percent of inmates who carried a military-style semiautomatic or fully automatic weapon fired it, and more than 25 percent of the killed or injured their victim.
Almost all law-enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association, support our efforts to reinstitute the Assault Weapons Act. I would support my law-enforcement officers, and the safety of our communities and of this nation, over any gun manufacturer any day.
Our local police are not prepared for the reinstitution of assault weapons to our streets. The bulletproof vests that we give our police officers are no match for the guns that are going to be back out in our neighborhoods. And we are going to allow criminals to carry large-capacity clips with more than 50 rounds, when our police officers can only respond with 10 to 15 rounds?
The night before the assault-weapons ban was set to expire, Miami-Dade Police Officer Keenya Hubert was shot two dozen times with an AK-47 before she even had time to question the suspect of a North Miami shooting.
The attack on Officer Hubert illustrates precisely why the ban had been proposed in the first place. The expiration of the Assault Weapons Act favors gangs, terrorists, drug dealers and other criminals, and puts in danger my children and yours, and our heroes and protectors, the police officers.
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings represents Florida's 23rd Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Broward, Hendry, Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. He is a member of the House Rules Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intellegence.
The 1994 assault-weapons ban has expired, and our nation is again vulnerable to guns known to most in the law enforcement community as "the weapons of choice for criminals."
Considering that this was written by Alcee Hastings, whose criminal weapon of choice was afederal judiciary robe.
I'm with you. There is at least one lie, distortion or slur in just about every paragraph.
Where's that "Aw, Geez..." graphic? This is an appropriate venue. Same stuff, different day.
Now, how many of these were convictions for a felon possesing these weapons, as opposed to carrying out a crime such as robbery with these weapons?
"Moreover, a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey published in November 2001 reported that almost 7 percent of state inmates and more than 9 percent of federal inmates used military-style semiautomatic weapons in carrying out the crime for which they were convicted."
And they were all obtained legally, right? And these criminals would have other-wise stayed home and watched The Jeffersons instead of committing a violent crime, right?
And this is supposed to SUPPORT Hasting's position?
So, in other words, the Assault Weapons Ban had no impact on criminals obtaining these weapons.
Considering his logic the criminals wouldn't use the banned guns to commit crimes because they were "illegal," I guess the only solution here is to pass a law that says robbery, rape, assault and murder are banned activities. That way these same criminals who respected the "Assault Weapons Ban" will no doubt honor this ban as well. Huh????
Good thing there's another gun show coming to my town next weekend. Just hearing crap like that makes me anxious to go shopping.
It's not a matter of need, it's a matter of preference.
Semiautomatic weapons are killing machines with absolutely no positive value in any sensible community,
Semiauto rifles and handguns have always been legal, Alcee. It's just the ones with certain "evil-looking" features that were banned. ......any now (thankfully) that ridiculous ban is dust.
I despise people who are proud of their ignorance. This person's not fit to right rules governing a Boy Scout troop.
Well, if my math is correct, it looks like 93% of state inmaates and 91%of federal inmates did not use an AW in the commision of their crimes.
Do people need an "assault weapon" to protect themselves from a government consisting of blithering idiots like Alcee Hastings?
YES!
Hastings was later impeached, convicted and removed from the bench. Later, he ran for Congress to prove that the white guys can't keep him down. He is an obvious expert on breaking the law. He should be addressed as "the formerly-Honorable, Honorable Alcee Hastings."
Glad I could be of service.
Congressman Billybob
Click for latest, "Jon Stewart, You Magnificent B*stard! I Read Your Book!"
Fortunately for us, our Department of Justice has made it official:
They interpret the Second Amendment as referring to and individual right, and spell out their reasoning:
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm#con
This is just another example of the ignorant 'Oprahfried' journalism major with zero knowledge blabbing on aobut how these terrible weapons *cause* crime, like wheat causes bread.
If the authorities cant keep weapons out of maximum security prisons, how can anyone realistically propose banning guns (or anything else) to keep them out of the hands of criminals? Getting verbotten items and activities is EXACTLY WHAT CRIMINALS DO, duh! That is their specialty, while the specialty of this journalist seems to be posturing for attention.
All the AWB did was make it harder for poorer people who wanted to hunt to buy a gun as the 'military style' semi-automatics are mostly Eastern block armament sell offs crippled to not fire full auto.
What is better about getting shot with a bolt-action rifle instead of a semi-auto anyway?
And since when does 7% constitute 'weapon of choice', anyway?
This article is a classic example of idiocy on hype.
Isn't this a bit hard to believe, if they mean AR's or AK's?
Note they don't say "assault weapon" here, just "military style semiautomatic."
Does this include .45 Auto pistols?
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.