New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

(July 13, 2004, NY, NY): A groundswell of more than 1,100 local Police Chiefs and Sheriffs from 35 states are calling on Congress and President Bush to renew and strengthen the federal Assault Weapons Ban before it expires on September 14th. To date, 64 law enforcement executives from around New York State have signed on, as well, to a resolution sent them by New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), the statewide organization working for gun violence prevention. This is part of an ongoing effort by the national coalition of independent state-based organizations devoted to reducing gun violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, and coalition partners towards passage of a strong and effective federal Assault Weapons Ban.

The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and possession of 19 specific semi-automatic assault weapons, such as AK-47s, AR15s, and UZIs. However, the gun industry immediately began to evade the law by making minor cosmetic changes to assault weapons, renaming them, and marketing them as "post-ban" models. Copycat assault weapons are functionally identical to those banned by the 1994 law, which is why Police Chiefs and Sheriffs have called for renewal and strengthening of the Assault Weapons Ban, to close loopholes in current law.

Military-style semiautomatic assault weapons pose a grave risk to law enforcement officers. One in five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty between January 1^st, 1998, and December 31^st, 2001, were killed with assault weapons according to a study of FBI data, by the Violence Policy Center.

Last month three police officers were killed in Birmingham, Alabama, while trying to serve an arrest warrant, by a gunman wielding a SKS, a copycat AK-47 assault weapon not covered by the current ban. Banning such copycats should be part of an effective renewal of the federal assault weapons ban.

Police officers are also seriously wounded by assault weapons. A Chief from Brighton, Michigan wrote when returning his form: "Less than two weeks ago, an officer from this agency, a six year veteran, and another officer, a fifteen year veteran, from a neighboring department were both shot several times with an AK-47 rifle while attempting an arrest. Both officers are still in the hospital for treatment of their injuries."

"Gaining the support of Police Chiefs and Sheriffs for renewing and strengthening the Assault Weapons Ban is vital if we are going to persuade Congress and President Bush to act before the September 14^th deadline," said Andy Pelosi, NYAGV’s executive director. "The men and women who protect us are aware of the devastating firepower of these guns, the damage they cause in our communities and the attraction of these rapid killing machines to criminal gangs, drug dealers and individuals intent on mass murder. That’s why they want all assault weapons off our streets."