2008 Woodie Awards
Get Your Guns
Ban On Assault Weapons Expires
Erik Burneyko
Issue date: 9/16/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Just when you thought the world was getting a little safer, President Bush allowed the ban on assault weapons to expire. The ban allowed the assault weapon related crime rate to drop a drastic 65 percent. Assault weapons were out of the hands of drug dealers and kept the police safer. With crime on the rise, I would have thought our president would have thought it would be a wise and safe decision to renew the law. But when his friends in the gun lobby asked him to look the other way, he couldn't resist.
The ban, which was created by Congress in 1994, banned all sales of newly manufactured semi-automatic guns to non-law enforcement or military individuals. The law was passed to keep these guns off the street and out of the hands of terrorists. This includes uzi's, AK-47's and TEC-9's. Before this act, thousands of deaths were committed due to assault weapons.
Since the ban expired, in some states, an 18-year-old will legally be able to purchase an AK-47. It will be possible to bring concealed TEC-9 assault pistols, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, into bars, churches, sports arenas, and even public schools or universities. Also, kids as young as 13 will be able to buy brand new American-made AK-47s at gun shows and through the classifieds.
I support our second amendment and I feel individuals with the right licenses and permits should, by all means, excercise their rights. But, for what purpose will an assault weapon serve the average hunter or gun enthusiast? Do hunters normally hunt with assault weapons? Are deer becoming more aggressive and becoming immune to the average shotgun? Are rabbits working-out, making a shotgun act as a toy? I personally do not like to sort through bullets while eating a nice juicy piece of venison, but that's my opinion.
I think the only hunting possible with these weapons is hunting for cops or gang members. With the police dealing with dangerous situations already, do they really need to worry about looking down the barrel of an uzi on a daily basis? Criminals are always looking for more dangerous weapons and now have the luxury of possessing one either via the internet or from someone who has legally purchased one.
I know this is a fast world and time is money. There are things to do and people to see, but are we that impatient that we need to fire 50 rounds per second? What will be next...legalizing grenades to go squirrel hunting? Bush is making the job of violence easier and the job of police harder.
The ban, which was created by Congress in 1994, banned all sales of newly manufactured semi-automatic guns to non-law enforcement or military individuals. The law was passed to keep these guns off the street and out of the hands of terrorists. This includes uzi's, AK-47's and TEC-9's. Before this act, thousands of deaths were committed due to assault weapons.
Since the ban expired, in some states, an 18-year-old will legally be able to purchase an AK-47. It will be possible to bring concealed TEC-9 assault pistols, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, into bars, churches, sports arenas, and even public schools or universities. Also, kids as young as 13 will be able to buy brand new American-made AK-47s at gun shows and through the classifieds.
I support our second amendment and I feel individuals with the right licenses and permits should, by all means, excercise their rights. But, for what purpose will an assault weapon serve the average hunter or gun enthusiast? Do hunters normally hunt with assault weapons? Are deer becoming more aggressive and becoming immune to the average shotgun? Are rabbits working-out, making a shotgun act as a toy? I personally do not like to sort through bullets while eating a nice juicy piece of venison, but that's my opinion.
I think the only hunting possible with these weapons is hunting for cops or gang members. With the police dealing with dangerous situations already, do they really need to worry about looking down the barrel of an uzi on a daily basis? Criminals are always looking for more dangerous weapons and now have the luxury of possessing one either via the internet or from someone who has legally purchased one.
I know this is a fast world and time is money. There are things to do and people to see, but are we that impatient that we need to fire 50 rounds per second? What will be next...legalizing grenades to go squirrel hunting? Bush is making the job of violence easier and the job of police harder.