Harry Tuttle
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Police, gun-control advocates aim for assault-weapon ban
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=810&NewsID=574507&CategoryID=5845&show=localnews&om=
09/16/04
By Harold Goodridge
Terrorists and criminals can now more easily obtain military-style assault weapons, according to some local legislators, police officers and gun restriction proponents.
A 10-year-old federal ban on certain assault weapons expired midnight Monday after President Bush and Republicans in Congress opted to not renew it.
CeaseFire Maryland, Laurel area delegates and police officials held a news conference Monday at Laurel Regional Hospital asking citizens to call on their local representatives and the federal government to reinstitute the ban and expand a state ban.
"We are here today to mark the demise of the 1994 weapons ban on 19 assault weapons," said Leah Barrett, executive director of CeaseFire Maryland.
"Republicans want to make these weapons of war more available by letting the ban die," Barrett continued, holding up a plastic replica of an M-16. "We want the president to know we are deeply upset."
The expiration of the assault weapons ban allows gun manufacturers the ability to again build guns with higher magazine and clip capacities, such as 15 to 30 rounds.
The federal assault weapons ban, signed into law in 1994 by President Clinton, limited gun magazines to 10 rounds of ammunition. The law also banned the sale of guns with certain characteristics, such as bayonet mounts, flash suppressors, pistol grips, stocks with telescopes and grenade launchers _ features that are typically found on military firearms.
Maryland passed its own assault weapons ban in 1994 prohibiting gun magazines that hold more than 20 rounds and the sale of 16 different assault-style guns. Maryland is one of seven states with such legislation.
"Deer have more protection than people," Barrett said, citing a federal law that limits hunters to eight rounds of ammunition. "After tomorrow, you can have 50 or 60 rounds. There's no reason to have these weapons."
"Shame on you, President Bush. Shame on you, Congress," said Del. Barbara Frush of Calverton. "Talk about weapons of mass destruction _ these are weapons of mass destruction. You can't hunt with them. You don't target-shoot with them."
Del. Brian Moe of Laurel said, "When the Second Amendment was written, I don't believe assault weapons were available."
Moe urged citizens to flood local and federal legislators with calls and letters supporting the ban.
Last spring, a bill that would have included 45 other types of military-type weapons died in the General Assembly.
Proponents of the bill said they will push harder in the future.
"It's up to Maryland to fill the void and the lack of responsibility of the federal government," Barrett said.
Del. Neil Quinter of Howard County, a co-sponsor of the failed ban expansion legislation, said it was backed by the Maryland State Police and police chiefs around the state.
State Sen. John Giannetti Jr., who cast the deciding vote to kill the Maryland bill, said in an interview Tuesday that he did so because police told him they didn't support it and the governor would not have allowed it.
"I've talked to 50 or 60 people including police officers and asked them, 'What should we do in Maryland if the federal ban is lifted?' And I was told that it doesn't make a difference because Maryland already has (gun) laws that the police can enforce," Giannetti said.
CeaseFire Maryland handed out fliers Tuesday that said, "Local police chiefs ask: Why is Giannetti voting against the assault weapons ban?"
The flier, according to CeaseFire, was endorsed by retired Maryland State Police Col. David Mitchell, Laurel police Chief David Moore, Howard County Police Chief Wayne Livesay and other police chiefs.
Giannetti said many of the police officers he talked to spoke to him "off the record." He added, "There are (police) groups that support (the proposed Maryland ban), but there's no unanimity among law enforcement on the bill."
Giannetti declined to comment on the expired federal ban. "I don't know what's in it," he said. "The devil is in the details on these kinds of things and I'd have to look at it."
Moore said he supports the federal ban and expansion of the state ban. He said the Maryland Police Chiefs Association also supports them both, as well.
"I have a responsibility (to support it), not only as a police chief, but as a citizen," Moore said. "We have to find a way ... to make sure weapons are kept out of the hands of criminals.
"There are still bad guys who will find a way to get assault weapons," Moore added, "but we have to make it more difficult for the bad guys."
E-mail Harold Goodridge at [email protected].
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=810&NewsID=574507&CategoryID=5845&show=localnews&om=
09/16/04
By Harold Goodridge
Terrorists and criminals can now more easily obtain military-style assault weapons, according to some local legislators, police officers and gun restriction proponents.
A 10-year-old federal ban on certain assault weapons expired midnight Monday after President Bush and Republicans in Congress opted to not renew it.
CeaseFire Maryland, Laurel area delegates and police officials held a news conference Monday at Laurel Regional Hospital asking citizens to call on their local representatives and the federal government to reinstitute the ban and expand a state ban.
"We are here today to mark the demise of the 1994 weapons ban on 19 assault weapons," said Leah Barrett, executive director of CeaseFire Maryland.
"Republicans want to make these weapons of war more available by letting the ban die," Barrett continued, holding up a plastic replica of an M-16. "We want the president to know we are deeply upset."
The expiration of the assault weapons ban allows gun manufacturers the ability to again build guns with higher magazine and clip capacities, such as 15 to 30 rounds.
The federal assault weapons ban, signed into law in 1994 by President Clinton, limited gun magazines to 10 rounds of ammunition. The law also banned the sale of guns with certain characteristics, such as bayonet mounts, flash suppressors, pistol grips, stocks with telescopes and grenade launchers _ features that are typically found on military firearms.
Maryland passed its own assault weapons ban in 1994 prohibiting gun magazines that hold more than 20 rounds and the sale of 16 different assault-style guns. Maryland is one of seven states with such legislation.
"Deer have more protection than people," Barrett said, citing a federal law that limits hunters to eight rounds of ammunition. "After tomorrow, you can have 50 or 60 rounds. There's no reason to have these weapons."
"Shame on you, President Bush. Shame on you, Congress," said Del. Barbara Frush of Calverton. "Talk about weapons of mass destruction _ these are weapons of mass destruction. You can't hunt with them. You don't target-shoot with them."
Del. Brian Moe of Laurel said, "When the Second Amendment was written, I don't believe assault weapons were available."
Moe urged citizens to flood local and federal legislators with calls and letters supporting the ban.
Last spring, a bill that would have included 45 other types of military-type weapons died in the General Assembly.
Proponents of the bill said they will push harder in the future.
"It's up to Maryland to fill the void and the lack of responsibility of the federal government," Barrett said.
Del. Neil Quinter of Howard County, a co-sponsor of the failed ban expansion legislation, said it was backed by the Maryland State Police and police chiefs around the state.
State Sen. John Giannetti Jr., who cast the deciding vote to kill the Maryland bill, said in an interview Tuesday that he did so because police told him they didn't support it and the governor would not have allowed it.
"I've talked to 50 or 60 people including police officers and asked them, 'What should we do in Maryland if the federal ban is lifted?' And I was told that it doesn't make a difference because Maryland already has (gun) laws that the police can enforce," Giannetti said.
CeaseFire Maryland handed out fliers Tuesday that said, "Local police chiefs ask: Why is Giannetti voting against the assault weapons ban?"
The flier, according to CeaseFire, was endorsed by retired Maryland State Police Col. David Mitchell, Laurel police Chief David Moore, Howard County Police Chief Wayne Livesay and other police chiefs.
Giannetti said many of the police officers he talked to spoke to him "off the record." He added, "There are (police) groups that support (the proposed Maryland ban), but there's no unanimity among law enforcement on the bill."
Giannetti declined to comment on the expired federal ban. "I don't know what's in it," he said. "The devil is in the details on these kinds of things and I'd have to look at it."
Moore said he supports the federal ban and expansion of the state ban. He said the Maryland Police Chiefs Association also supports them both, as well.
"I have a responsibility (to support it), not only as a police chief, but as a citizen," Moore said. "We have to find a way ... to make sure weapons are kept out of the hands of criminals.
"There are still bad guys who will find a way to get assault weapons," Moore added, "but we have to make it more difficult for the bad guys."
E-mail Harold Goodridge at [email protected].
...I was in the room when I heard the MSP representative unequivocally state that they did not believe a more restrictive ban would be at all effective in reducing crime.