US assault weapons ban to lapse

BBC Online News

The powerful National Rifle Association lobbied against the ban
A ban on military-style assault weapons in the United States lapses on Monday, 10 years after it was passed.
The move means that ordinary citizens will be allowed to keep powerful assault weapons in their homes.

The ban was passed by President Clinton in 1994 after a series of shootings in US schools and fast food restaurants.

Lifting the ban has been a key aim of the powerful, pro-Republican gun lobby and its demise comes just weeks before the US presidential election.

President George W Bush has said he supports the ban but he has not pressured Congress to extend the prohibition.

Unless Congress renews the ban, it will end at midnight.

Election issue

Polls show the majority of Americans support the ban and several police chiefs have expressed concern over its repeal.

ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

The 1994 bill bans the manufacture of 19 weapons, including those pictured above
Copies or duplicates of the weapons are banned
The law also prohibits features such as folding stocks, pistol grips and flash suppressors
Anti-gun activists say that, by making changes to these features, gun makers have continued to make arms nearly identical to pre-ban models


Arguments for and against
Deadly weapons in comeback
The Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry, says he will make it an issue in the November elections and hold the president accountable for betraying police officers.

The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says Mr Kerry, who is falling behind in the polls, has seized on the issue as a possible vote-winner.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) called Mr Kerry "the most anti-gun presidential nominee in United States history".

The ban covers 19 different types of military assault weapons, including AK-47, Kalashnikov and Uzi rifles, as well as high-capacity ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds.

In order to get the measure through Congress, Mr Clinton agreed to demands for a vote to be held after 10 years to confirm the ban.

However, Republicans, who now control both houses of Congress, have refused to schedule such a vote.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3644044.stm

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“If you're out to speak the truth leave elegance to the tailor” (Albert Einstein)

Most people who support it don't really understand it, or have a larger agenda of virtually complete arms control and see this as a stepping stone.

If we REALLY wanted to reduce violent gun crime in this country, we'd ban "saturday night special"-style handguns which are the most frequently used weapon by criminals...and are unlikely to be owned by legal gun owners.

Catz

I'd like someone from the BBC to explain to me how a bullet fired from a gun with a pistol grip or folding stock is more deadly that a bullet fired from the gun without them.

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What have you done for your people today?

Don't you love the hand-wringing and fear-mongering in this press release?

"IF those evil republicans don't renew this ban, there will be assault weapon toting gang members ON YOUR STREET at midnight!!!!"

ARRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

Catz

...it's pretty ridiculous.

I just have a hard time taking the pro-ban people seriously...most of them don't even know what was banned.

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What have you done for your people today?

And they have the audacity to refer to us as sheeple...

If you are really stupid, Eup, are you smart enough to know how stupid you are?

Catz

I have been listening to this for some time now, I think the ban was completely ridiculous. And now look at the title of this thread. Republicans trying to aid terrorism? How utterly stupid a statement! The ban didn't really bad anything except superficial things. You could still buy the same stinkin' gun without a few of the extras legally. I think people need to understand what the bill was and what was outlawed before they open their pie holes and make ignorant statements. If they want a true ban, you have to ban the gun not a few of the bells and whistles (though I don't support any sort of gun ban).

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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

from the BBC, "Colt AR-15, 800 rounds per minute". Um, it's a semi-automatic.

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What have you done for your people today?

Here, fishy fishy, fishies...

Catz