Press Release - Rep. Lacy Clay Supports Legislation

End To Ban is 'Utter, Incomprehensible Contradiction'

ST. LOUIS (Monday, September 13, 2004) - The 10-year-old ban on assault
weapons expires at midnight tonight and Members of Congress are appealing to
the President and House of Representatives leadership to consider extending
the ban. United States Representative William Lacy Clay is among those
calling for an extension to the ban, in the hopes of saving lives.
"Today, I join with other Members of Congress in calling for President
Bush and the House Republican Leadership to allow a vote to reauthorize the
ban on assault weapons," Rep. Clay said. "The crime in U.S. cities has
declined significantly over the last 10 years and I strongly believe the
assault weapons ban has been a contributing factor. Major law enforcement
agencies support an effective ban - including 50 police departments in
Missouri -- as well as the families and relatives of victims who have
suffered from gun violence. Assault weapons should be restricted for
military use only.
"Opinion polls overwhelmingly support the assault weapons ban," the
Congressman said. "Congressional leaders are acting to appease one powerful
lobby group at the expense of public safety. Once again, the Bush
Administration is saying one thing and doing another. While trying to remove
assault weapons from the streets of Baghdad, and the rest of Iraq, and
refuses to support a ban on assault weapons from the streets of America.
That is an utter, incomprehensible contradiction. I support two bills to
continue the ban - HR 2038 and HR 3831. Either one will at least keep us
from taking a step back by legalizing assault weapons."
According to the FBI, one in five police officers slain in the line of
duty between 1998-2001 were killed with an assault weapon and 75 percent of
officers killed with a rifle were slain with an assault weapon. Also,
bullets from assault weapons are known to have penetrated body armor worn by
police officers in 17 out of 19 deaths.
"The case for continuing the ban is obvious. The truth is, the outlawing
of assault weapons from the streets of America should be a non-partisan
issue, neither a Democratic nor a Republican issue. Instead, it should be
about protecting the people who protect us. And legalizing the preferred
weapons of cop killers and terrorists is a travesty in our effort to bolster
home security," Rep. Clay said.
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(Contact: Ishmael-Lateef Ahmad at 314.367.1970 or
ishmael-lateef.ahmad@mail.house.gov