Lautenberg Introduces Assault Weapons Ban

[FWiedner]

Lautenberg Introduces Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act

Measure Tougher and More Comprehensive than 1994 Federal Ban on Assault Weapons that President Bush and Republicans Allowed to Expire Last Year

WASHINGTON, DC --Acting forcefully to protect citizens and law enforcers, United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg introduced today a bill which would restore the federal ban on dangerous assault weapons.

"Keeping assault weapons off our streets is common sense," said Senator Lautenberg. "Our first responsibility to the American people is to keep them safe."

The "Assault Weapons Ban and Law enforcement Protection Act" would permanently reinstate and significantly strengthen the federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazine that expired on September 2004. The Lautenberg bill would improve and simplify the definition of assault weapons; would expand the scope of the ban to include conversion parts kits that can be purchased through the mail and used to build an assault weapon; regulate the transfer of grandfathered assault weapons; clarify definitions of assault weapon characteristics; and enhance tracing of assault weapons.

"It is time to act in the interest of the American people, not the gun lobby," said Senator Lautenberg. "Innocent lives, including law enforcement officials, are at risk and we need to pass this legislation now. Gun laws should be there to protect the innocent; not help criminals and terrorists"

The Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) produced a detailed report at the request of Senator Lautenberg that found that at least 47 suspected and known terrorists who are listed on the nation's terror watch lists were allowed to legally purchase firearms. With the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban, these people could now upgrade from a hand gun or rifle, to an AK-47.

http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005316855.html

*FW Note:  An enemy of freedpm, once again spinning his evil little web to use the law to deprive you and me of our ability to defend ourselves from people like him.  What's that old song say?  "Rust never sleeps..."

 :evil: