Date: 11 Apr 1995 06:34:02 -0700 From: "Johann Opitz" Subject: Statement by Handgun Contro To: "Firearms Alert" Reposted form USENET -- SAME OLD LIES from HCI!!! ======================================== From: ndallen@io.org (Nigel Allen) Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns I found this on the U.S. Newswire BBS at (410) 363-0834. Statement by Handgun Control Inc. President on Assault Weapons Ban Repeal Bill To: National Desk Contact: Jamie Shor of Handgun Control Inc., 202-898-0792 WASHINGTON, April 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement by Richard Aborn, president of Handgun Control Inc., on the introduction of the latest assault weapons ban repeal bill: "It is unfortunate that since Speaker Gingrich has finished his Contract with America he has chosen to take out a contract 'on' America. The Speaker and his handpicked Task Force on Firearms are attempting to thwart the will of the people in order to appease a gun lobby, which is anxious to see the ban on assault weapons and other sound pieces of gun legislation stricken from the books. "This dangerous bill flies in the face of states' rights. It will serve as a tool by which pro-gun forces can wipe out state and local gun laws by simply filing a lawsuit. Moreover, the legislation conflicts with the Contract with America's tort reform section -- since it invites lawyers to burden our court system with suits challenging local gun regulations vital to public safety, such as, waiting periods for the purchase of a firearm, child access prevention laws and other state licensing systems. "The legislation's call for a repeal of the assault weapons ban is in direct conflict with public opinion. An NBC poll taken earlier this year found that 76 percent of Americans want the ban on assault weapons to remain in place. These guns are favorites of gangs and drug traffickers and have been used in a disproportionately high number of mass murders and drive-by shootings. This legislation, introduced by Task Force leader Rep. Bob Barr, is an insult to America's law enforcement community -- which worked tirelessly for five years to enact the assault weapons ban. "The Task Force doesn't want to rewrite American gun laws -- they want to destroy them. It's not a task force, it's a wrecking crew." ------ Handgun Control Inc. is currently leading a drive of 92 national organizations representing 140 million Americans in the "Campaign to Protect Sane Gun Laws" -- a national grassroots effort to protect the ban on assault weapons, the Brady Law and other state and local gun regulations. -0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ ======================================== == Johann Opitz e-mail: johann_opitz@smtp.svl.trw.com == == All Disclaimers Apply (so as to protect my employer) ==