ABA Presses for Reauthorization of Assault Weapon Ban

The American Bar Association has called on President Bush to urge Congress to pass legislation reauthorizing the 1994 federal assault weapons ban. Enacted in 1994, the law banned the sale of 19 models of military-style firearms and copies. Unless Congress takes action, the law is scheduled to expire on Sept. 13.

American Bar Association President Dennis W. Archer today said that, unless President Bush urges Congress to reauthorize the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, "our communities will once again see an increase in senseless violence. We must ensure that the ban remains in effect for the sake of all law-abiding citizens."

Archer’s comments came in a letter to President Bush in which he expressed appreciation for the president’s previous support for the ban, but called on him to do more to prevent it from expiring later this year.

The landmark federal Assault Weapons Act was enacted in 1994 in response to an alarming trend of military style weapons being used by gangs, drug dealers and spree killers around the country. It prohibits 19 models of military-style firearms and copies of them that pose an especially high risk to law enforcement and to our nation’s youth.

Archer said these weapons have no place on our streets. "Since enactment of the ban," he said, "there has been a dramatic reduction in crimes committed with these prohibited firearms."

The Act is scheduled to expire unless Congress reauthorizes it before September 13. The Senate went on record in March in a bipartisan vote in support of legislation to renew the Act, but the House has yet to act.

"If the House of Representatives is not prompted to schedule a vote in the next several weeks, the current ban will expire and our communities will once again see an increase in unnecessary violence," said Archer. "We must ensure that the ban remains in effect for the sake of all law-abiding citizens."

In calling on President Bush to press Congress to reauthorize the Act, Archer pointed to statements from House leaders who argue that have not acted because the White House has not asked them to. "It is clear that unless you exert the leadership to break this logjam the Act will expire," he said.

"Leaders in both political parties have made clear their agreement, in supporting a renewal of the ban, that these firearms are not suitable for hunting, collecting, or self-defense, but rather are meant for military combat and are attractive to criminals, youth gangs and terrorists."

"We urge you to call on Congress to act without further delay to reauthorize the assault weapons ban."

For a copy of the letter, visit the ABA Web site at www.abanet.org/poladv/letters/108th/home.html

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