[cuchulainn]

from Reuters

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22161001.htm22 Oct 2003 22:47:13 GMT
US police chiefs back assault weapon ban extension

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Police chiefs from major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Philadelphia urged Congress on Wednesday to renew the federal ban on assault weapons, which is set to expire next year.

Standing behind a table laden with semi-automatic rifles and other firearms seized from the streets of Philadelphia, the law enforcement leaders told a news conference that failure to extend the ban would cause a new surge in multiple killings and subject police officers to a greater risk of armed attacks.

The ban took effect in February 1994 after it was signed into law as part of the Brady Bill, named for former White House spokesman Jim Brady who was wounded in a 1981 assassination attempt against then-President Ronald Reagan.

Gun control advocates say the campaign to extend the assault weapons ban faces substantial opposition in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republican leaders have vowed to prevent the issue from coming up for a vote.

"The idea that 10 years later we are even debating this is insanity," Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said.

As an illustration of the destructive firepower of assault weapons, which incorporate military features, the police chiefs cited a 1993 attack in California where they said a man with an assault weapon killed eight people and wounded six others in 11 minutes.

The police chiefs were in Philadelphia to attend the annual convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which is expected to include more than 15,000 law enforcement officers.

[Jeff White]

Police chiefs from major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Philadelphia urged Congress on Wednesday to renew the federal ban on assault weapons, which is set to expire next year.

I would be interested in knowing the last time one of these chiefs made an arrest or wore body armor under their uniforms.

Standing behind a table laden with semi-automatic rifles and other firearms seized from the streets of Philadelphia, the law enforcement leaders told a news conference that failure to extend the ban would cause a new surge in multiple killings and subject police officers to a greater risk of armed attacks.

A saavy reporter would have asked them how the addition of a flash suppressor or bayonet lug will make streets any safer. Or how the beltway shooters managed to kill and injure so many people with a safe, approved for public use post ban rifle?

As an illustration of the destructive firepower of assault weapons, which incorporate military features, the police chiefs cited a 1993 attack in California where they said a man with an assault weapon killed eight people and wounded six others in 11 minutes.

11 minutes??!! A novice with a muzzle loader could do better then that.

"The idea that 10 years later we are even debating this is insanity," Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said.

You're right chief..this is insanity..the whole law, we shouldn't waste anytime debating it...let it die.

Jeff

[Brian Dale]

Edited: Jeff beat me to it.

[Moparmike]

Notice how all-encompassing the title is? It sounds like ALL police chiefs are calling for this crap.

[Brian Dale]

Mike -- note also that they mention "more than 15,000 law enforcement officers," as though that were where this nonsense were coming from. Nope - it's from the political masters of those particular big-city chiefs. Thanks for Playing, Reuters; better luck next time.

[foghornl]

Makes me wonder how long it has been since any of those Pief of Cholices slugged it out, toe-to-toe, mano y mano with a bad guy. Many years, I would think, IF EVER.

Been almost 30 years for me, but I haven't forgotten the rotten eggs covered with Limburger & garlic sauce "oral aroma" from MY last less than bad breath detection distance encounter......

[El Tejon]

Screw off, Nazis!

If the police wanted to ban certain religions or burn certain books, would that make it O.K.?:rolleyes:

Sorry, Chief Wiggum, contrary to our would-be masters on the East Coast we do not live in a Police State. The Rights of Man are beyond politics.

[Frohickey]

As an illustration of the destructive firepower of assault weapons, which incorporate military features, the police chiefs cited a 1993 attack in California where they said a man with an assault weapon killed eight people and wounded six others in 11 minutes.

8 people killed... 6 wounded... 14 shots in 11 minutes. I could shoot a lot more than 14 shots...even with a single shot!
:cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss:

[Aerodog]

I guess the police chiefs in Los Angeles and San Francisco forgot their job is in California where the items in question will remain restricted even if the federal AW ban sunsets.

[gun-fucious]

http://www.bradycampaign.org/press/release.asp?Record=425

9/23/2002


Major Law Enforcement Groups and Police Executives Call for Reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban

Law Will Expire in September 2004



Major Cities Chiefs Association
http://www.neiassociates.org/about.htm
Fifty-seven major law enforcement organizations in the United States and Canada comprise the membership of the Major Cities Chief's Association. The Association was formed in the late 1960's by a few chiefs of police who wished to have a forum to discuss organizational issues only relevant to large police organizations. The MCC has gradually expanded its membership to include suburban police departments, large metropolitan sheriff's departments, and the larger departments in Canada.

The MCC meets three times each year for discussion of issues facing law enforcement. The fall meeting is held in conjunction with the annual conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the winter meeting is held in a member city, and the summer meeting and training conference is held in Sun Valley, Idaho. Current membership is limited to those chief executive officers of departments located within a metropolitan area of more than 1.5 million population and departments which employ more than 1,000 law enforcement officers. A few of the original MCC members no longer meet these criteria as a result of population shifts. However, these departments' memberships has been grandfathered.

The current president of the MCC is Jerry Keller, Sheriff, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. The vice president is Ron Palmer, Chief of Police, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the secretary-treasurer is Rick Dinse, Chief, Salt Lake City Police Department and the executive director is Tom Frazier formerly with the Baltimore Police Department.

Can you say Clinton-ista?
Director Tom Frazier, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services;

[Standing Wolf]

...major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Philadelphia...

I notice all these cities are famous from coast to coast for their low crime rates, so I guess the so-called "assault weapons" ban must be doing a pretty good job, right?