As a degreed Criminal justice practitioner, I can say without reservation or hesitation that the AWB had no impact on violent crime.  There was no identifiable change in trends towards a reduction in crime which was already underway pre AWB nor was there any decrease in the availability of weapons that one might even remotely consider Assault weapons.  The reduction in violent crime during the years the AWB was in effect are far more likely to be a continuation of the trend in decreasing population of 18-24 year olds and new laws allowing CCW.  The former having a direct impact on the potential number of likely criminals, and the latter offsetting the risk/reward calculus that makes crime profitable.  As there was by the violence policy center's own study, a net increase of at least 1 million semi automatic military pattern rifles during the period, yet violent crime still receeded, it is impossible to provide a positive impact due to the AWB.

Quoted: If you want to read about the gun market influence from the ban, tell of all the small businesses going out when the ban came into effect. I bet you, if you looked at the unemployment in firearm/accessory making towns/cities, that unemployment took about a 1-2% increase during November or December.

I didn't really notice this.  There are in fact more dealers and manufacturers than ever before.  Many spurred into business simply because of the ban and the following increase in popularity of mil styled weapons.  In short, the AWB was in fact a boon to the industry as a whole.