[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7040-H7041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in 1994 Congress passed the 
Federal Assault Weapons Ban as part of the Violent Crime Control and 
Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The law banned the sale to civilians of 19 
types of semiautomatic weapons, but many manufacturers have been able 
to skirt the prohibition by offering knock-off models. Domestic gun 
manufacturers were required to stop production of semi-automatic 
assault weapons and ammunition clips that hold more than 10 rounds, 
except for military or police use.

[[Page H7041]]

  The assault weapons ban will expire or ``sunset'' today unless 
Congress passes legislation to renew the law. President Bush has stated 
his support for the assault weapons ban. Unfortunately, the House 
refuses to act until the President calls on Republican congressional 
leadership to do so.
  The Assault Weapons Ban is supported by virtually every Federal, 
State and local law enforcement agency, including the Fraternal Order 
of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the International 
Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major City Chiefs Association, and 
the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. The ban was supported 
by Presidents Reagan, Ford, Carter, and Clinton, and by Republicans Tom 
Ridge and Rudy Giuliani.
  Prior to the ban, ATF found criminals prefer assault weapons over 
law-abiding citizens eight to one. In the 5 years before the ban, 
assault weapons made up almost 5 percent of ATF crime gun traces. Since 
the ban, assault weapons have made up only 1.5 percent of these 
traces--a drop of 66 percent from the preban rate.
  As recently as December 2003, an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll 
found that 78 percent of adults nationwide support renewal of the ban. 
Additionally, 57 percent of people with a gun in their household 
support the assault weapons ban. The ban does not include hunting 
rifles and shotguns, which is probably why a majority of hunters 
support extending the ban today. The greater the availability of 
assault weapons, the cheaper their price, and the more wind up on the 
streets.
  We need to take action immediately, and I urge my colleagues in 
Congress to step up and do the right thing by extending this ban.

   Congresswoman Jackson Lee Urges House GOP Leadership to Schedule 
     Immediate Vote To Renew Assault Weapons Ban that Expires Today

       Washington, D.C.--Today, September 13, 2004, the ten-year 
     federal ban on assault weapons is set to expire unless 
     Congress takes immediate action to extend it. Congresswoman 
     Sheila Jackson Lee has continued to urge the House Republican 
     leadership to schedule an immediate vote to renew the ban. 
     The Congresswoman has received many calls in support of an 
     extension by local enforcement officers and gun control 
     advocates who have been lobbying for congressional action on 
     the ban. Extension of the ban is supported by more than 
     three-quarters of Americans nationwide. The Senate approved a 
     renewal of the ban earlier this year, but the House has not 
     voted on the matter because the House Republican leadership 
     refuses to allow a vote.
       ``For ten years, the assault weapons ban has helped keep 
     semi-automatic assault weapons off the market, off our 
     street, and out of the hands of gangs, terrorists, drug 
     dealers, and most importantly our children,'' Congresswoman 
     Jackson Lee said. ``It is imperative that the House 
     Republican leadership schedule an immediate vote to renew and 
     strengthen the assault weapons ban so that these deadly 
     weapons are not allowed on our streets again. These are not 
     the weapons people use for hunting deer or wild game. These 
     assault weapons are designed to kill as many people as 
     quickly as possible.''
       The ban, which was approved in 1994, prohibits the domestic 
     manufacture, import, and sale of 19 types of semi-automatic 
     assault weapons such as AK-47s, TEC-9s, and Uzis, as well as 
     dozens of other weapons, which are designed to kill quickly 
     and violently. Unlike weapons firing single rounds, assault 
     weapons are designed to spray many bullets into a single 
     area, as opposed to a single target, increasing the chances 
     of hitting innocent bystanders who are in the crossfire.
       According to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 
     and Explosives (ATF), there has been a 66 percent reduction 
     in the number of traced crimes committed with assault weapons 
     since the ban went into effect. A study of FBI data by the 
     Violence Policy Center reveals that one in five law 
     enforcement officers slain in the line of duty between 
     January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2001 were killed with 
     assault weapons. `` This serves as further proof that the 
     assault weapons ban not only needs to be renewed, but 
     intensified,'' Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee stated, ``I 
     am a cosponsor of a bill to renew the ban for another ten 
     years as well as another bill to strengthen the ban by adding 
     weapons to the prohibited list and making it permanent.''
       Congresswoman Jackson Lee continued, ``The Second Amendment 
     to the United States Constitution allows people to `keep and 
     bear' firearms. The important question is where we should 
     draw the line. People should not be allowed to have shoulder-
     fired rocket launchers, nor do they need a semi-automatic 
     weapon that can fire off 30 shots in a matter of seconds for 
     recreational hunting. We need to renew and strengthen the 
     federal ban on assault weapons.''
       The assault weapons ban is supported by virtually every 
     federal, state, and local law enforcement agency, as well as 
     organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police, the 
     National Sheriff's Association, the International Association 
     of Chiefs of Police, the Major City Chiefs Association, and 
     the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.

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