[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 159 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15169-S15170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




VIOLENCE POLICY CENTER'S REPORT, ``COP KILLERS: ASSAULT WEAPON ATTACKS 
                         ON AMERICA'S POLICE''

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I would like to draw my colleagues' 
attention to a report recently released by the Violence Policy Center 
which refutes one of the most persistent criticisms of the assault 
weapon ban--that assault weapons are not used by criminals. The ban on 
semiautomatic assault weapons, enacted into law last year, has been the 
subject of intense criticism and unfortunately seems to be the target 
of an almost inevitable repeal effort in this Congress. This report 
should help clarify the real dangers posed by these weapons.
  Despite the support of numerous law enforcement groups, and 
compelling testimony to the contrary, many opponents of the assault 
weapon ban claim that assault weapons are rarely used in crimes, and 
pose little threat to law enforcement personnel. This report, based on 
a survey of newspaper clips from across the nation from February to 
July, 1995, provides further evidence to the contrary. 

[[Page S 15170]]

  The survey identifies eight police officers killed and nine wounded 
by assault weapons during this 5-month period. It documents 20 separate 
incidents in which at least 43 law enforcement officers were confronted 
by assailants armed with assault weapons. This figure only includes 
incidents where these weapons posed an imminent threat to the officers, 
not incidents where assault weapons were found on suspects or 
confiscated during the course of an investigation or arrest. Twelve of 
the 20 incidents involved AK-47 assault rifles or TEC-9 assault 
pistols, both of which are explicitly banned by the Federal 
legislation. The study finds that at least 1 in 10 law enforcement 
officers killed in the line of duty will be felled by assault weapons.
  I urge my colleagues to read this report, and seriously consider the 
public safety and public policy issues involved in this issue. We 
should heed the voices of the many law enforcement groups which 
strongly support the ban. We should not repeal the assault weapon ban 
before it is given chance to make a difference. 

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