davera
Member
This week our local paper The Auburn-Opelika News (Alabama) had an editorial concerning the expiration of the AWB. Their piece had the predictable "AK-47s and Uzi's", "blood in the streets and such".
Here is my response to them:
Your editorial on Tuesday Sept 14 concerning the expiration of Assault Weapons Ban was disingenuous. Firearm stores will not be carrying AK-47s or Uzi’s after the ban expires. These are automatic weapons (machine guns) and are illegal under other laws still in effect. The 1934 National Firearms Act banned machine guns in general and the 1989 Import Ban included the Uzi specifically.
You can however purchase civilian versions of an AK 47 that fires a single shot at a time and functions like many commonly available hunting rifles. This was true before the ban, during the ban and is still true today. The Assault Weapons Ban mainly prohibited certain cosmetic features.
The editorial stated “some experts across the nation fear a sharp rise in crime.†Which experts? In October of 2003 the Centers for Disease Control conducted a systematic review of scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of firearms laws in preventing violence, including violent crimes, suicide, and unintentional injury. Quoting from the summary:
“The Task Force found insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of any of the firearms laws or combinations of laws reviewed on violent outcomes.â€
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5214a2.htm
In a March 2003 interview on NPR, Tom Diaz of the pro gun control Violence Policy Center said "If the existing assault weapons ban expires, I personally do not believe it will make one whit of difference one way or another" in "reducing death and injury."
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1760128
The Assault Weapons Ban was merely “feel good†legislation that had no useful result.
Good riddance.
Here is my response to them:
Your editorial on Tuesday Sept 14 concerning the expiration of Assault Weapons Ban was disingenuous. Firearm stores will not be carrying AK-47s or Uzi’s after the ban expires. These are automatic weapons (machine guns) and are illegal under other laws still in effect. The 1934 National Firearms Act banned machine guns in general and the 1989 Import Ban included the Uzi specifically.
You can however purchase civilian versions of an AK 47 that fires a single shot at a time and functions like many commonly available hunting rifles. This was true before the ban, during the ban and is still true today. The Assault Weapons Ban mainly prohibited certain cosmetic features.
The editorial stated “some experts across the nation fear a sharp rise in crime.†Which experts? In October of 2003 the Centers for Disease Control conducted a systematic review of scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of firearms laws in preventing violence, including violent crimes, suicide, and unintentional injury. Quoting from the summary:
“The Task Force found insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of any of the firearms laws or combinations of laws reviewed on violent outcomes.â€
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5214a2.htm
In a March 2003 interview on NPR, Tom Diaz of the pro gun control Violence Policy Center said "If the existing assault weapons ban expires, I personally do not believe it will make one whit of difference one way or another" in "reducing death and injury."
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1760128
The Assault Weapons Ban was merely “feel good†legislation that had no useful result.
Good riddance.
