Dear Violence Policy Center Action Network Member:

As you know, the federal assault weapons ban expires today.  

In 1994, soon after the federal assault weapons ban was signed into law, the
Violence Policy Center warned in The New York Times that the ban would be:                        

"an island of regulation in a vast sea of laissez-faire production" of firearms
that could limit the law's effect.  "The question remains how effective it will
be and how  creative the industry will be in trying to work around the
definitions."

Our concerns were quickly realized.  The gun industry moved swiftly to
circumvent the ban.  The June 2004 VPC study, United States of Assault Weapons:
Gunmakers Evading the Federal Assault Weapons Ban revealed that under the ban,
more than 40 gunmakers across America were marketing post-ban assault weapons,
including UZIs, AK-47s, AR-15s, MAC-10s, and others.  The study also revealed
that more than a million assault weapons have been manufactured since the bans
passage in 1994.  

That is why the VPC and its state gun control partners fought not only to renew,
but more importantly, strengthen, the federal assault weapons ban.  The sad
truth is that mere renewal would have done little to stop this flood of assault
weapons.  Conversely, the end of the ban only makes official what was already
known:  assault weapons are readily available in America.  The only difference
is that the arbitrary distinction between pre- and post-ban assault weapons is
now gone.  One result of our work is that news and editorial pages across
America now understand the need to strengthen the ban.  This would not have
occurred without the work of the VPC.  

While the assault weapons ban has ended, the debate will continue--as,
unfortunately, will the killings.  The May 2003 Violence Policy Center analysis
of FBI data, Officer Down--Assault Weapons and the War on Law Enforcement,
revealed that one out of five law enforcement officers (41 of 211) slain in the
line of duty from 1998 through 2001 were killed with an assault weapon.  So far
this year, six law enforcement officers in Indiana and Alabama alone have been
killed with SKS assault rifles--weapons not covered under the 1994 ban.

Americas police and public deserve an effective assault weapons ban that truly
bans all assault weapons.  The ban's end doesn't change the facts:  assault
weapons pose a unique threat.  A truly effective ban would limit the access of
these guns to cop-killers, extremists, grudge killers, gang members, and bona
fide gun nuts. VPC expertise and advice played a key role in proposed
legislation to strengthen the ban--and will continue to do so.  We will build on
this campaign next Congress and work to help ensure public safety and rein in
America's unregulated gun industry by working to pass effective legislation.  

Thank you, as always, for your support and your commitment to ending gun death
and injury.  For more information please visit
http://action.vpc.org/ctt.asp?u=1423191&l=54896.  

. . .

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Where do they get this "one out of 5 cops are killed with an assault weapon" in 98-2001?

If that were true that would be a huge increase in their use in crime from when the ban was passed.

And just why would you think we'd be interested in reading their crap?

Perhaps the better question would be why in the heck are you here, given your obviously on their mailing list and an Action Network member ?

Mike

I called the VPC and Brady org this am.  Both orgs were rude beyond belief.  They have a major case of the red ass right now.

What FBI data shows assault rifle or non agaist LEOs?

The only data I have seen from the FBI is separated into type of firearm (handgun, long gun) and caliber.  I wouldn't put it past VPC to include all 7.62x39, 5.56, 9mm, etc into the "Assault Weapon" catagory.

A truly effective ban would limit the access of these guns to cop-killers, extremists, grudge killers, gang members, and bona fide gun nuts.

Perhaps they should have considered drafting that a different way.  If read correctly, it would seem that by banning all "these guns" the only people with access to them will be cop-killers, extremists, etc.  Maybe a "by" would help.

Quoted: Where do they get this "one out of 5 cops are killed with an assault weapon" in 98-2001? If that were true that would be a huge increase in their use in crime from when the ban was passed.

What were the other 80% killed with?

Dear Violence Policy Center Action Network Member:

And now for some goods news--California leads the war on terror by banning 50
caliber sniper rifles!  Thank you for helping pass this first-in-the-nation law!

On the same day that President Bush and Congress allowed the federal assault
weapons ban to expire, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law
AB 50, a bill banning 50 caliber sniper rifles--weapons of war that can
penetrate armor plating, destroy aircraft, and pierce fuel tanks and tank cars.
Click here to read the VPC press release:
http://action.vpc.org/ctt.asp?u=1423191&l=55440

The action comes less than three years after the Violence Policy Center first
identified the threat posed by these weapons with its study, Voting From the
Rooftops:  How the U.S. Gun Industry Armed Osama bin Laden, Other Foreign and
Domestic Terrorists, and Common Criminals With 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles.  See
this study and other VPC studies on the threat posed by these weapons at
http://action.vpc.org/ctt.asp?u=1423191&l=55453.

Please e-mail Governor Schwarzenegger and thank him for signing this important
piece of legislation into law.  He can be reached at:
http://action.vpc.org/ctt.asp?u=1423191&l=55441

This is a prime example of national and state advocates working together to pass
effective laws--even when our federal policymakers refuse to take action.  We
look forward to other states following California's lead on both 50 caliber
sniper rifles and assault weapons.

Thank you again for being part of this victory.  


I think I am gonna be sick

Quoted: And just why would you think we'd be interested in reading their crap? Perhaps the better question would be why in the heck are you here, given your obviously on their mailing list and an Action Network member ? Mike

Well Mike I thought you might want to know what the fuck they are doing.  That is the same reason I am on their mailing list.  When I see that they are planning a calling or email campaign I post it so the folks on the gun sites can counter it.