[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 106 (Thursday, September 9, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

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                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 2004

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to 
an issue that has languished here in the House and in the other body.
  Ten years ago, Congress, at the urging of then-President Clinton, 
enacted sweeping reforms in an effort to crack down on crime. 100,000 
officers were added to the law enforcement ranks. Background checks and 
waiting periods to purchase firearms were made mandatory. And perhaps 
one of the most important pieces in this omnibus anti-crime initiative, 
the Assault Weapons Ban (AWB), was brought into effect.
  These reforms have worked. In the ten years since enactment, crime in 
the U.S. has gone down dramatically. Firearm deaths have decreased by 
25 percent. The use of semi-automatic guns in crimes has lowered by 
nearly 50 percent.
  But on Monday, September 13th, one of the key policies that has made 
the past decade an anti-crime success story will be dismantled. Despite 
campaign promises in 2000 that the law would be reauthorized, President 
Bush has not lifted a finger to save the Assault Weapons Ban. At the 
same time, the House and Senate Majority Leadership have consistently 
opposed efforts to bring the bill up for a vote.
  Despite this unwillingness to act, the sad fact remains that the 
banned assault weapons and copycat versions that gun manufacturers 
issued to legally circumvent the law lead to gun deaths. Assault 
weapons are being used in one out of every five killings of law 
enforcement officers in the U.S. These guns have no use for hunters and 
very limited use for sport shooting. To most people, this is a common 
sense public safety issue. Polls have consistently shown that nearly 
three-fourths of the public support extending the AWB.
  On Monday, if we lose the assault ban, which appears to be the case 
barring a legislative miracle, then we will have lost both a symbolic 
and practical tool in the fight against gun violence in America. Our 
streets will once again be less safe. Police officers will have a 
greater reason to worry about their safety, and gangs, terrorists, drug 
dealers, and criminals of every description will have greater access to 
weapons enabling their activities and putting the safety of all 
Americans at risk.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on this body to listen to the American public and 
do its duty to protect the safety of our citizens. The Assault Weapons 
Ban should be brought up for a vote immediately.

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