Assault weapons bans

It is likely that gun control will be an issue in the 2004 presidential race between Democrat John Kerry and incumbent George W. Bush, but it is unlikely to be a major issue like the economy, Iraq, or the war on terrorism. This does not mean it will not be an important issue, however—in the expected close election, any issue able to motivate even a relatively small number of voters could be decisive. (Indeed, Kerry attacked Bush in September 2004 for allowing the assault weapons ban to lapse without making any real effort on its behalf.) Although not as much so as abortion or same-sex marriage, gun control is a cultural issue. The effects of such issues on political outcomes are always hard to predict. 

The following states ban all or some types of assault weapons California, Connecticut and New Jersey, as well as some jurisdictions in New fork and Ohio. (Hawaii bans assault pistols. ) A number of cities have their own assault weapons bans. These include Albany, New York Atlanta, Georgia Berkeley, California Cleveland, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Denver, Colorado (ban on sale) Los Angeles, California and New York City. 

In another Ohio case, Peter Langan was convicted of violating an assault weapons ban similar to that in Cleveland mentioned in the previous case. He appealed the conviction on various grounds, and the case went to the Ohio Court of Appeals. 

This case is a challenge to a Connecticut assault weapons ban brought by DeForest H. Benjamin and a variety of other plaintiffs, including a gun manufacturer called Navegar, which was doing business as Intratec. The ban involved both a list of specific weapons (such as the AK-47) as well as specifying similar weapons such as AK-47-type guns. The trial and appeals courts rejected the suit, which was then appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court. 

There were three major issues (1) Did the assault weapons ban violate the state constitution s guarantee of the right of a person to bear arms in defense of himself and the state (2) Did the ban violate equal protection principles by treating gun owners differently based on hard-to-distinguish characteristics of their weapons (3) Was the law an unconstitutional bill of... 

If the approach shown by the Connecticut court continues to predominate, a carefully written state assault weapons ban is likely to withstand all legal challenges. 

In another major victory for gun control advocates. Congress passes the Assault Weapons Ban Bill, which bans 19 semiautomatic firearms described as assault weapons. ... 

April The Bush administration through spokesperson Scott McClellan affirms its continuing support for the assault weapons ban and for renewing the law. 

September 13 The federal assault weapons ban expires. In the presidential campaign. Democrat John Kerry charges that President George W. Bush had bowed to NRA pressure in declining to make any effort to renew the law. 

Barbara Boxer, U.S. senator from California, elected to the Senate in 1992 after having served 10 years in the House. In addition to working for women s issues and health care. Boxer has been a strong advocate in the Senate for gun control, including the Brady Bill, the Assault Weapons Ban, and the attaching of gun control provisions to more recent crime bills. 

Street Sweeper A semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun that holds 12 rounds and can be fired quickly a devastating weapon for close combat that was banned as an assault weapon as part of the 1994 federal Assault Weapons Ban. 

Worsnop, Richard L. Gun Control Will It Help Reduce Violent Crime in the U.S. CQ Researcher, vol. 4, June 10, 1994, pp. 507ff. Introduces the debate over gun control as it focuses on the assault weapons ban debated in Congress in 1994. The article also includes discussion of political, social, and criminological aspects, as well as sidebars on specific gun topics. 

Metaksa, Tanya K. Constitutional Quake Rocks California Gun Ban. American Rifleman, vol. 146, May 1998, p. 44. Reports on a California district court decision that prevents the state attorney general from adding new firearms to the state assault weapons ban. The court said the existing procedure was arbitrary and failed to provide due process. 

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