gun-fucious
Member
http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/PR021
51.pf.html
SCHUMER: NEW ATF DATA PROVES THE 1994 ASSAULT WEAPON BAN IS WORKING
Rate of banned assault weapons used in crime is down by nearly two-thirds
since passage of the 1994 law – Assault weapons ban is set to expire in one
year
Senators also announce broad coalition in support of renewing Assault
Weapons Ban
The proportion of banned assault weapons traced to crimes has dropped by
almost two-thirds since 1995, according to new data from the Department of
Justice. The newly released data, obtained by Senators Dianne Feinstein and
Charles Schumer from the ATF, is the first to show the long-term impact of
the 1994 law sponsored by the two lawmakers. The law banned the manufacture
of 19 military-style assault weapons, including the civilian versions of the
Uzi and Mac-10 and also banned the manufacture of copycat weapons.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Schumer said. "To let the assault weapons
ban expire just as we are realizing its benefits would be a major setback in
the success we've had in reducing crime over the last decade. The fact of
the matter is that there is no legitimate use for these weapons. That was as
true in 1994 as it is today. The bottom line is that the assault weapons ban
is working and we are safer because of it."
In 1995, the first year that the ban went into effect, assault weapons
represented 3.57 percent of all crime guns recovered from crimes. By 2002,
assault weapons represented only 1.22 percent of the number of guns used in
crimes. The Justice Department data shows a steady decline of criminal
firearm traces in which the 19 banned assault weapons were used. Assault
weapons were nearly three times as likely to be recovered in a crime in 1995
than last year:
Year----- Percentage
1995----- 3.57%
1996----- 2.53%
1997----- 2.02%
1998----- 1.80%
1999----- 1.91%
2000----- 1.59%
2001----- 1.30%
2002----- 1.22%
(Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives)
“We are definitely seeing a reduction of firepower in the hands of street
criminals,†said Harold L. Hurtt, the police chief for Phoenix, Arizona and
president of the Major Cities Chiefs of Police, one of several law
enforcement organizations endorsing the Feinstein-Schumer bill. “We support
renewing the ban because police should never be outgunned by criminals.â€
President Bush has said he would support the re-authorization of the current
ban. The President has also made it clear that he supports banning the
importation of high capacity ammunition clips. If Congress does not take
action, the ban will expire on September 13, 2004, and manufacturers would
once again be able to make the assault weapons that have been banned for
almost 10 years.
Although the assault weapons ban remains controversial in Congress, it is
widely supported by gun owning and non-gun owning voters. According to an
October poll conducted for Americans for Gun Safety, voters support renewing
the ban by a margin of 77-21% (66-30% among gun owning voters).
Feinstein and Schumer also unveiled a broad coalition of supporters backing
the re-authorization of the ban, which is set to expire in September 2004.
Coalition members include police organizations, more than 100 mayors,
teachers unions, religious groups, county officials, and several major gun
safety advocacy organizations.
"The broad support we've accumulated for renewing the ban underscores the
fact that people recognize that this law hasn't resulted in a single
law-abiding hunter losing the right to hunt, or homeowner losing the power
to defend his home," Schumer said. "In fact, it shows that the Second
Amendment can thrive while we take reasonable measures to protect Americans
from gun violence."
Coalition members in support of re-authorizing the assault weapons ban
include:
Americans for Gun Safety
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence United with the Million Mom March
National Education Association
NAACP
National League of Cities
United States Conference of Mayors (including more than 100 letters from
individual mayors)
National Association of Counties
International Brotherhood of Police Officers
Major Cities Chiefs of Police
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
American Probation and Parole Association
Church Women United, Episcopal Church – USA
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Public Health Association
Family Violence Prevention Fund
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
Physicians for a Violence Free Society
American Association of Suicidology
Mothers Against Violence in America
Child Welfare League of America
Alliance for Justice
51.pf.html
SCHUMER: NEW ATF DATA PROVES THE 1994 ASSAULT WEAPON BAN IS WORKING
Rate of banned assault weapons used in crime is down by nearly two-thirds
since passage of the 1994 law – Assault weapons ban is set to expire in one
year
Senators also announce broad coalition in support of renewing Assault
Weapons Ban
The proportion of banned assault weapons traced to crimes has dropped by
almost two-thirds since 1995, according to new data from the Department of
Justice. The newly released data, obtained by Senators Dianne Feinstein and
Charles Schumer from the ATF, is the first to show the long-term impact of
the 1994 law sponsored by the two lawmakers. The law banned the manufacture
of 19 military-style assault weapons, including the civilian versions of the
Uzi and Mac-10 and also banned the manufacture of copycat weapons.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Schumer said. "To let the assault weapons
ban expire just as we are realizing its benefits would be a major setback in
the success we've had in reducing crime over the last decade. The fact of
the matter is that there is no legitimate use for these weapons. That was as
true in 1994 as it is today. The bottom line is that the assault weapons ban
is working and we are safer because of it."
In 1995, the first year that the ban went into effect, assault weapons
represented 3.57 percent of all crime guns recovered from crimes. By 2002,
assault weapons represented only 1.22 percent of the number of guns used in
crimes. The Justice Department data shows a steady decline of criminal
firearm traces in which the 19 banned assault weapons were used. Assault
weapons were nearly three times as likely to be recovered in a crime in 1995
than last year:
Year----- Percentage
1995----- 3.57%
1996----- 2.53%
1997----- 2.02%
1998----- 1.80%
1999----- 1.91%
2000----- 1.59%
2001----- 1.30%
2002----- 1.22%
(Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives)
“We are definitely seeing a reduction of firepower in the hands of street
criminals,†said Harold L. Hurtt, the police chief for Phoenix, Arizona and
president of the Major Cities Chiefs of Police, one of several law
enforcement organizations endorsing the Feinstein-Schumer bill. “We support
renewing the ban because police should never be outgunned by criminals.â€
President Bush has said he would support the re-authorization of the current
ban. The President has also made it clear that he supports banning the
importation of high capacity ammunition clips. If Congress does not take
action, the ban will expire on September 13, 2004, and manufacturers would
once again be able to make the assault weapons that have been banned for
almost 10 years.
Although the assault weapons ban remains controversial in Congress, it is
widely supported by gun owning and non-gun owning voters. According to an
October poll conducted for Americans for Gun Safety, voters support renewing
the ban by a margin of 77-21% (66-30% among gun owning voters).
Feinstein and Schumer also unveiled a broad coalition of supporters backing
the re-authorization of the ban, which is set to expire in September 2004.
Coalition members include police organizations, more than 100 mayors,
teachers unions, religious groups, county officials, and several major gun
safety advocacy organizations.
"The broad support we've accumulated for renewing the ban underscores the
fact that people recognize that this law hasn't resulted in a single
law-abiding hunter losing the right to hunt, or homeowner losing the power
to defend his home," Schumer said. "In fact, it shows that the Second
Amendment can thrive while we take reasonable measures to protect Americans
from gun violence."
Coalition members in support of re-authorizing the assault weapons ban
include:
Americans for Gun Safety
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence United with the Million Mom March
National Education Association
NAACP
National League of Cities
United States Conference of Mayors (including more than 100 letters from
individual mayors)
National Association of Counties
International Brotherhood of Police Officers
Major Cities Chiefs of Police
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
American Probation and Parole Association
Church Women United, Episcopal Church – USA
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Public Health Association
Family Violence Prevention Fund
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
Physicians for a Violence Free Society
American Association of Suicidology
Mothers Against Violence in America
Child Welfare League of America
Alliance for Justice