The current federal assault weapons ban will expire in September of 2004 unless renewed by Congress and signed into law by the President. Unfortunately, the current law hasn’t worked as Congress intended when it passed the ban in 1994.

Said John Johnson, executive director of IPGV: “Gun manufacturers have evaded the assault weapons ban by making minor modifications to existing assault weapons, renaming them, and marketing them as post-ban products. Current law must be strengthened to take these post-ban assault weapons off our streets. The Lautenberg and McCarthy-Conyers bills will do just that.”

Sen. Kerry announced his intention to sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill in response to a question from IPGV during a November campaign event at Luther College in Decorah, IA. Kerry, a gun owner and a hunter, has stated his support for renewal of the assault weapons ban on several occasions. During a July 19 campaign event in Anamosa, IA, Kerry said: “I support a ban on assault weapons. These are weapons of war. We have no business selling weapons of war on the streets of America. If you want to shoot an AK-47 or M-16, then I have a good solution for you. Enlist in the armed forces, raise your right arm (Kerry raised his right arm as he spoke), and take the oath.”

Democratic presidential candidates Dick Gephardt (D-MO) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) are co-sponsors of the House bill (HR 2038) to renew and strengthen the federal assault weapons ban.

Kirsten Meredith, communications coordinator of IPGV, added: “Military-style, semiautomatic assault weapons constitute an unreasonable risk of death and injury to all Americans, especially law enforcement personnel. IPGV commends Senator Kerry and Representatives Gephardt and Kucinich for their leadership in taking these weapons of war off America’s streets.”