here comes the VPC:
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0,2061,575245,00.html
Wisconsin Hunter Murders Show Need for Effective Assault Weapons Ban
11/22/2004
Press Release
Violence Policy Center
1140 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
www.vpc.org
Contact:
Marty Langley
Phone: 202-822-8200 ext. 109
Armed Hunters No Match for SKS Assault Rifle
President Has Power to Fully Ban Import of All Foreign-Made Assault Rifles Such As SKSs and Ak-47s
Washington, DC - SKS assault rifles like the one reported to have been used to murder five hunters and wound three others in Wisconsin over the weekend are a primary threat to police, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) reported today. So far in 2004, at least six law enforcement officers have been slain by SKSs. In the wake of the shooting, the VPC called on President George W. Bush today to use the Administration's executive authority over firearm imports to fully ban the import of all foreign-made assault rifles. Such an action would not require Congressional approval. The Bush Administration has specifically authorized the importation of SKS assault rifles from both Yugoslavia and Albania.
"Armed hunters were no match for one person firing an SKS assault rifle," said Kristen Rand, VPC legislative director. "This sad incident illustrates why the SKS is also a leading cop-killing rifle in America today."
Rand pointed out that the SKS assault rifle was not covered by the recently expired 1994 federal assault weapons ban. The VPC criticized the 1994 law as inadequate and favors enactment of a tougher version of the law that would ban the SKS and many other assault weapons that easily slipped through the old law's loopholes.
"Even though the 1994 law was easily circumvented by the gun industry, Congress has failed to move on a strong replacement law. President Bush could, with the stroke of a pen, tighten the import ban and stop the import of all foreign-made assault rifles," Rand said.
She noted that both the President's father, former-President George H.W. Bush, and former-President William J. Clinton stopped the import of hundreds of thousands of assault weapons by using their executive authority under firearms import and trade laws. Under the current Bush Administration, specific foreign-made assault rifles, including some SKSs, have returned to the marketplace.
For more information on the SKS assault rifle and the use of it and other assault weapons against law enforcement personnel, please visit
www.vpc.org.
>>>>>>>>>
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-22-2004/0002496552&EDATE=
Wisconsin Advocates Call on State Lawmakers to Pass Comprehensive Statewide
Assault Weapons Ban
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort
extends their deepest sympathy to the families and victims of the horrifying
and deadly shooting in Sawyer County, where a man used an SKS semi-automatic
assault rifle to gun down five hunters and wound three others. This tragedy
demonstrates the urgent need for an effective federal ban on military style
assault weapons. But since President Bush and Congress allowed the federal
assault weapons ban to expire in September of this year and seem disinterested
in passing a new law, Wisconsin lawmakers should, in the meantime, pass a
comprehensive statewide assault weapons ban. Reports suggested that the
shooting occurred after an argument escalated when hunters found 36-year-old
Chai Soua Vang using a tree stand belonging to someone else.
SKS military style, semi-automatic assault rifles, like the one used in
yesterday's tragic shooting, are the most common assault rifles used to kill
law enforcement offices in the United States, according to the Violence Policy
Center, a Washington, D.C. based think tank. In 2004, six law enforcement
officers in the United States have been gunned down by shooters using SKS
assault rifles.
"Over the years, we have seen that these military-style, semi-automatic
assault rifles are the guns of choice for cop-killers and mass murderers,"
said Jeri Bonavia, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort.
"There is no good reason for hunting with a spray-fire gun, capable of 'hosing
down' a target area. Military-style guns, such as the SKS, do not belong on
our streets or in our fields and woods."
The Bush Administration has specifically authorized the importation of
some SKS assault rifles. The Bush Administration's regulatory power over
firearm imports means the President has the power and should ban the import of
all foreign-made assault rifles. Such an action would not require
Congressional approval. President Bush's predecessors, former-President
George H. W. Bush and former-President William J. Clinton, stopped the import
of hundreds of thousands of assault weapons by using their executive authority
under firearms import and trade laws.
"Since President Bush and members of Congress refused to protect Americans
by banning assault weapons, it is urgent that Wisconsin lawmakers take action
now," Bonavia added.
In September, Assemblywoman Christine Sinicki (20th District) announced
she would introduce statewide legislation to ban assault weapons in Wisconsin
in the wake of the expiration of the federal ban. "After this horrendous
shooting, it is more clear than ever that the Wisconsin State Legislature must
act now to ban assault weapons," Sinicki said.
There is overwhelming support for banning assault weapons from law
enforcement and from the citizens of Wisconsin, including 73% of likely voters
and 66% of gun owners in the state.
SOURCE Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort
