3 February 2004
GCLA Legislative Alert Will the Federal Assault Weapons Ban Sunset?
There is much speculation amongst gun-owner rights groups about whether
or not the so-called "assault weapon ban" will be allowed to
expire in September of this year. There is also some misinformation
about how the ban became law, who was responsible, and when it started.
Background.
In 1989, Patrick Purdy took an Chinese semi-automatic AK-47 clone onto
the grounds of a school in Stockton, California and killed five
children and wounded thirty-nine others. He then did society a favor
and took his own life.
The media frenzy that followed culminated with George H.W. Bush issuing
an executive order banning the further importation of so-called
"assault weapons."
Bill Clinton occupied the White House in 1992 and in 1994 signed the
Omnibus Crime Bill that included an amendment that became known as the
Assault Weapon Ban [AWB].
The AWB is set to sunset in September of 2004 unless Congress renews it
or expands it.
Will Congress pass a stand-alone AWB renewal/expansion? Not likely. The
key is the term "stand alone." This means that bill is
introduced as an AWB renewal/expansion. It is debated as such. and is
voted on as such. The history of Congress is NOT to pass controversial
measures as "stand-alone" legislation. When a topic gets too
hot and our politicians need cover, they get the measure attached to
other more important legislation [like monster budget bills] as an
amendment.
The 1994 AWB was added to an "important" crime bill AS
AN AMENDMENT!
So. my advice to all those who want the AWB to sunset and not be
renewed or expanded is to WATCH those "important" bills that
the country "desperately needs". Those are the vehicles that
the anti-gun-owners will attempt to use for their AWB agenda. This same
advice applies for those wishing to prevent federal efforts to ban gun
shows.
Greg Jeffery
Legislative Chairman, Gateway Civil Liberties Alliance www.gclastl.org
Legislative Coordinator, Missourians for Personal Safety www.moccw.org
Designated Part-time Spokesman, Western Missouri Shooters Alliance www.wmsa.net
