Moveon.org – 2004-09-10 23:25:44

http://www.moveon.org/savetheban

On Monday, September 13th, at midnight, the national ban on military-style assault weapons will expire, allowing these murderous weapons back on our streets.

Congress is feeling the heat and is prepared to renew the ban, if the president will only ask — but President Bush is letting the ban expire, on behalf of the gun lobby. We’ve got to take action.

Please sign on to our emergency petition to President Bush and Congress to renew the assault weapons ban now:
http://www.moveon.org/savetheban/

Then please ask your friends and family to sign, by forwarding them this email. We’ll deliver all of the comments by Friday, September 10th, before the ban expires, so we need as many people as possible to sign on today.

Bush Has Flip-flopped on Terrorist Weapony
In 2000, President Bush campaigned on a promise to renew the ban. Yet today, after we’ve endured mass murders like Columbine and terrorists have bought assault weapons on American soil, President Bush is letting the ban expire.

Bush is jeopardizing our safety for the sake of an endorsement from the National Rifle Association. As reported in the newspaper The Hill, “The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) endorsement of Bush is on hold until after the ban expires.”[1]

Since 1994, the assault weapons ban has taken the deadliest military- style weapons off our streets, dramatically cutting their use in crimes by 66 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, and reducing the murder rates of police officers and the public.

Democracy Is under the Gun
This is not a partisan issue — the assault weapons ban was supported by Presidents Reagan, Ford, Carter, and Clinton, and by Republicans Tom Ridge and Rudy Giuliani.

The ban is supported by 74 percent of American voters, by Republicans and Democrats on the committees that investigated 9/11, and by virtually every police officers’ association including the Major Cities Chiefs Association, International Brotherhood of Police Officers , National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Black Police Association, and Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association.

Yet President Bush is letting the ban expire, as he refuses to call on Congress to send him the ban renewal for his signature.

If he lets it expire, beginning Tuesday the 14th of September, an 18-year-old will once again be able to buy an AK-47 assault rifle in most states.

Don’t let Bush put deadly assault weapons back on our streets. Go to:

http://www.moveon.org/savetheban/

Footnote:
[1] The Hill, “Gun makers get ready for big demand,” September 2, 2004

See website for the complete article, as well as further resources and other background information on this issue.