*** NEWS RELEASE ***

PRESIDENT BUSH BLOCKS RENEWAL
OF ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
DESPITE CLOSE LINK BETWEEN
ASSAULT WEAPONS AND TERRORISM

Assault Weapons to Compromise Homeland Security Initiatives

US Authorities Linked Assault Weapons and Terrorism
in the United States Just One Month Ago

Associated Document: Full Report

Washington, DC – September 12, 2024 – Despite the linkage between assault weapons and terrorism – and despite the fact that assault weapons are an acknowledged threat to Homeland Security -- President Bush remains determined to block the renewal of the federal Assault Weapons Ban, set to expire on September 13.

According to a report released today by Stopthenra.com, which earlier this year led the effort to defeat immunity legislation for gun dealers and manufacturers, assault weapons represent a real threat to homeland security and will become among the most accessible weapons for terrorists and other criminals.

The connection between assault weapons and terrorism was brought into sharp relief just last month when, on August 6, 2004, federal authorities announced that they were investigating a New Jersey man operating a website for terrorist organizations. The site advised would-be terrorists to acquire assault weapons in countries where it was legal to do so – specifically naming the United States as one of the countries where terrorists could acquire these weapons – and learn how to use them. This site was identical to one operated by Al Qaeda prior to its shutdown by U.S. special forces after September 11, 2001.

Polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support renewing the ban and understand the difference between a weapon of mass destruction and a hunting rifle. Sixty-eight percent of the American population supports renewing the ban according to one poll released by Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates. Voters also viewed President Bush's blocking of the national Assault Weapons Ban as a pivotal indicator of his lack of leadership on homeland security.

"The American public is not as ignorant as the NRA and President Bush would like to us believe," Richard Aborn, executive director of Stopthenra.com said today. "Americans understand that assaults weapons are an issue of law enforcement – not gun control – and want them banned. President Bush and the Republican leadership, so bent on letting this law expire, are playing a deadly game of politics in an effort to please the NRA. It's transparent and unfortunate. As our law enforcements leaders plead for the ban to continue, because of the threat to cops and the public, we urge Congress one final time to take responsible action and renew this ban."

While President Bush claimed in 1999 that "it makes no sense for assault weapons to be around our society," he continues block efforts to renew the ban – despite the fact that an aide to House Speaker Dennis Hastert has said that "if Bush pushes for it, the ban will probably be reauthorized. But if he doesn't, the chances of legislation's passing this year are remote." Renewal of the ban has bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress.

The full report, which describes in detail the connection between assault weapons and terrorism, can be downloaded by clicking here.