To the Editor:
In 1994, in an effort led by the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and co-sponsors, the Senate passed a ban on assault weapons including the semiautomatic AR-15. Republican members of Congress who did not support such a ban added amendments. To receive a majority of votes, Feinstein agreed to numerous exceptions, including a sunset provision of 10 years.
Six year later, during the 2000 presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican candidate was asked if he became president, would he vote in 2004 to extend the ban. He stated that he would.
In 2004, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert refused to allow an extension of the ban to even come to a vote in Congress. He and other Republican leaders feared that if Bush did not vote for the extension, voters would refer to him as a liar. If he voted for the extension, pro-gun voters would not be happy with Bush and possibly not vote in the 2004 election.
Since 2004, numerous mass shooters have used assault weapons to kill too many people, including children in elementary schools.
On July 13, former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt by a 20-year-old registered Republican, Thomas Crooks, using an AR-15 assault weapon. One rally attendee was killed and two others were injured by that same assault weapon.
Robert Doyle
Franklin
This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Franklin resident says it’s time to again consider assault weapon ban
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
