WASHINGTON -- More than eight years after Congress approved a ban on the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons, supporters and opponents are preparing to battle over whether to let the law expire as scheduled in September 2004.
Although 19 months away, the sunset date for the 1994 law banning AK-47s and similar weapons is generating intensive lobbying efforts from both sides of the emotional gun control issue.
The National Rifle Association, which questions the effectiveness of the ban, wants to see it die a quiet death. Gun control advocates worry that the targeted firearms -- the weapons of choice for many drug dealers, gang members and terrorists -- will return with a vengeance to the streets of America if the law is allowed to go off the books.
"Ask yourself: Do you really want to return to the days when Uzis and AK-47s were freely available in stores and on our streets?" said Sarah Brady, chairwoman of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Chris Cox, chief NRA lobbyist, said there's no indication the assault weapons ban has reduced violence, adding that many guns banned by the legislation are most commonly used for target shooting and not widely used for criminal acts.
"There is no logical reason to continue this 1994 law," Cox said.
from me. Semi-automatic assault weapons, indeed.