[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 41 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S3725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REAUTHORIZING THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, in 1994 President Clinton signed 
into law a ban on the production of certain semiautomatic assault 
weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The 1994 law banned a 
list of 19 specific weapons as well as a number of other weapons 
incorporating certain design characteristics. This law is scheduled to 
sunset on September 13, 2004.
  Last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General 
John Ashcroft indicated the Bush administration's support for the 
current ban on assault weapons, but refused to support reauthorization 
of the ban. I believe we should not only reauthorize this bill, but 
strengthen it. I hope the Bush Administration will support 
reauthorization.
  According to National Institute for Justice statistics cited by the 
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the assault weapons ban has 
successfully reduced the use of assault weapons in crime. According to 
the report, crime gun traces for assault weapons declined by 20 percent 
the first year after the ban took effect from 4,077 in 1994 to 3,268 in 
1995. Comparatively, trace requests on all crime guns decreased by only 
11 percent over the same period of time.
  Even with the success of the ban, assault weapons still pose a threat 
to community safety. In 1994, every major national law enforcement 
organization, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National 
Sheriff's Association, and the Major City Police Chiefs Association, 
supported the Federal assault weapons ban. I expect that law 
enforcement will again support this important piece of gun and 
community safety legislation.
  I urge my colleagues in the Senate and the President to support the 
reauthorization of this important bill.

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