From: [p j d] at [craycos.com] (Phil Duclos)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: The AW Ban Deception
Date: 20 Sep 1994 13:51:41 -0600



Wall Street Journal, Sep 20, 1994, Letters to the Editor:

"The Assault-Weapons Ban Deception"

	Sen Dianne Feinstein's letter stating that her ban on so-called 
"assault wespons" is aimed at protecting cops and kids is a false,
politically based statement that does not reflect the reality of
police experience in our streets ("Disarming the Enemy in the 
Streets, " Sept 1).

	No documentation exists in any police department in the country 
to back up the senator's claim that these firearms are "the most
notorious or dangerous" on our streets, or that this legislation will 
stop the most deadly weapons available today. It's a statement 
echoed by select political allies, some of whom just happen to carry
shields. Police firearms lab personnel, the experts who know the
truth, are never cited. Sen. Feinstein has repeated this outrageous 
claim endlessly for media value and to support her ill-conceived
legislation.

	Citing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms gun traces to
bolster her point of view is deceptive. As the senator well knows,
most BATF gun traces are not linked to violent crimes. The majority
reflect routine traces that involve stolen property, "turn-ins" 
prompted by local gun ordinances, and questionable confiscations 
from private homes or gun stores where no firearm-related crimes were
committed. The latter two categories most properly apply to the
cited Chicago experience.

	The self-loading firearms referred to by Sen. Feinstein have
little or no practical utility for criminals. The lack concealability,
portability or ease of use during split-second drive-by shootings.
Asl L.A. street gangs. The few times they experimented with these
firearms they ended up shooting their own drivers due to the size
and recoil of these weapons. And when was the last bayonet charge 
mounted by a street gang?

	The senator puts herself forward as a knowledgeable advocate
in support of this legislation, but she gets important facts wrong.
As an example, she says the soon-to-be banned self-loading AR-15
"has every combat feature of the M-16 combat rifle." The M-16 is a
machine gun, the AR-15 is not. For her to say pistol grips are
designed specifically to "spray fire from the hip" is not only
technically inaccurate, it goes against the most rudimentary
understanding of human anatomy and firearms design.

	Most of her assertions are misleading. The most damning
exidence of the weapons-ban's deception is the very language used
in the bill. Nowhere does it mention making it illegal for criminals
to have or use these weapons. It does not add increased penalties
for using a "dreaded" high-capacity magazine or using a misnamed
"assault weapon" in a violent crime. It applies only to honest
citizens who commit no crime. To say that the measure is aimed at
disarming criminals is disingenuous at the least.

	Sen. Feinstein gained the support of the heads of some
national police organizations (such as the International
Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research
Forum, Police Foundation, etc.) for one reason: They did not
want the federal grant money to dry up. Take a look at the millions
of dollars of taxpayer money funneled through various Justice
Department entities of these groups. If you want to know the truth
about the purported police support for Sen. Feinstein and her
ill-conceived gun bans, follow the money. I guarantee it won't
lead to police firearms experts.

James J. Fortis
Executive Director
Law Enforcement Alliance of America
Washington


I heartily agree.

phil duclos
[p j d] at [clouds.com]
[p j d] at [craycos.com]