Gephardt, Kucinich Lead Fight Against Assault Weapons
From a Coalition to Stop Gun Violence press release
Gephardt, Kucinich Lead Fight Against Assault Weapons
10/10/2003
Press Release
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
1023 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
www.gunfree.org
Contact:
Blaine Rummel
Phone: 202-297-1149
One Year After DC-area Sniper Attacks, Presidential Candidates Co-Sponsor H.R. 2038 to Renew and Strengthen Assault Weapons Ban
Washington, DC - Congressmen Richard Gephardt (D-MO) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) have co-sponsored H.R. 2038, a bill that will renew and strengthen the federal assault weapons ban. Their support comes one year after the DC-area sniper attacks, which killed 10 and wounded three others. The legislation would stop the gun industry from manufacturing and marketing all assault weapons, including the snipers' Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle.
Though other presidential candidates have stated their support for a strengthened assault weapons ban, Reps. Gephardt and Kucinich are the only two to co-sponsor such legislation. The current ban is set to expire September 13, 2004 unless President Bush and Congress act.
"Congressmen Gephardt and Kucinich are leaders in the fight to rid America's streets of military-style assault weapons once and for all," said Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "We hope that other candidates will follow suit and co-sponsor tough and effective assault weapons ban legislation."
Why the Ban Needs To Be Strengthened
The 1994 ban outlaws specific models of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. But in a willful attempt to violate the spirit of the law, the gun industry continues to manufacture "post-ban" assault weapons - guns identical to those banned except for minor cosmetic changes. The Bushmaster XM15 used in last fall's sniper attacks, for example, is a "post-ban" version of the AR15 assault rifle, which is banned under current law.
H.R. 2038 and S. 1431, its Senate companion, will not only renew the ban, but also stop the gun industry from manufacturing "post-ban" assault weapons such as the Bushmaster XM15.
For more information on the candidates' positions on the gun violence prevention issue, visit www.CandidatesOnGuns.org.
Date of Release: October 9, 2003
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