Oh man, I never seen this coming.
Echap
www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-18/109459076535780.xml&storylist=newsmichigan>
> State senator proposes Michigan extension of federal assault-weapons
> ban
>
> The Associated Press
> 9/7/2004, 4:52 p.m. ET
>
> LANSING, Mich. (AP) - State lawmakers said Tuesday they will introduce
> legislation to make sure assault-style weapons aren't sold, bought or
> manufactured in Michigan.
>
> Sen. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, said the bill would extend
> protections that are set to disappear next week when the 10-year-old
> federal assault-weapons ban is to expire.
>
> "These weapons are a threat to all Michigan citizens," Jacobs said. "If
> Congress fails to extend the ban, Michigan must take immediate action
> to protect our residents."
>
> In March, congressional Republicans voted down their gun-maker immunity
> bill after the Democrats won an amendment to extend the federal
> assault-weapons ban beyond its expiration. The provisions caused the
> National Rifle Association to withdraw its support for the bill, and
> Senate Republican leaders decided to kill it.
>
> The end of the ban would mean the gun industry could resume making,
> importing and selling 19 types of military-style semiautomatic weapons.
>
> Jacobs held a press conference Tuesday in Oak Park, where she was
> joined by Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, Rep. Bill McConico,
> D-Detroit, and victims of shootings involving assault weapons.
>
> Jacobs said more than 180 law enforcement officials statewide support
> continuing the ban. Ten other states have implemented bans or
> regulations on assault weapons, she said.
>
> Justice Department data shows the proportion of banned assault weapons
> traced to crimes has dropped by 65.8 percent since 1995. In 1995, the
> first year that the ban went into effect, assault weapons represented
> 3.57 percent of all crime guns recovered from crimes. By 2002, assault
> weapons represented only 1.22 percent of the number of guns used in
crimes.
>