Hope this isn't a dupe!
Nightline Daily E-Mail
September 8, 2004
TONIGHT'S FOCUS: For 10 years, it has been illegal in this country to manufacture or distribute some of the most deadly semi-automatic guns in the world. The majority of the public supports this ban and at least by some measures, gun violence has abated. So why are most of the Congress, the President, and the Democratic contender for the White House all looking the other way while this law is set to expire next week, returning these assault weapons to the streets?
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In 1994, Congress passed, and President Clinton signed the assault weapons ban, effectively making 19 different types of semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity magazines illegal. Of course, this wasn't a complete ban - guns already on the market were exempted and an additional 650 types of semiautomatic weapons commonly used for self-defense, hunting and target practice were allowed. Critics and supporters of the ban agreed that the law had flaws. But now, 10 years later, polls show most Americans support the law.
When it passed, the law had a political addendum known as a sunset clause - it would expire in 10 years if Congress didn't vote to extend it.
Next Monday will mark the 10 year deadline. And The House Majority Leader Tom Delay has indicated he's unlikely to allow it to come to a vote. And the White House has signaled that it will not urge him to do so. Even John Kerry has kept relatively quiet on this issue.
Why all the political silence on an issue that so many Americans say they support?
Today, a group of police chiefs from local departments around the country and victims of gun violence are gathering to lobby Congress on this issue. But so far, very little debate is occurring.
Tonight, Michel Martin will report on this example of election year politics at work.
As I write this, Ted Koppel is at a gun range, being given a demonstration. What is an assault weapon anyway? How are they different from other guns? We'll show you exactly which guns we're talking about - and the kind of damage they can inflict.
Finally, Ted Koppel will talk about all of this with Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department William Bratton and Sandy Froman from the National Rifle Association.
We hope you'll join us.
Sara Just and the Nightline Staff
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