Gun Control Debate

On Sept. 13, 2004, Congress allowed a 10-year ban on assault weapons to expire, once again legalizing rapid-fire, semiautomatic weapons like the AK-47, the TEC-9 and the Uzi. Two weeks later, despite 10 years of declining murder rates, the House of Representatives voted to abolish the District of Columbia's strict gun laws. Gun control supporters and major police organizations said the laws had protected civilians and police officers. But the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) argued that the laws were ineffective and trampled constitutional rights. Meanwhile, victims of gun violence have won $4.4 million in damages from gun dealers and a manufacturer. As the industry lobbies Congress and the states to immunize it against such suits, gun control advocates vow to renew the assault-weapons ban and strengthen the 1993 Brady law. However, given the results of the Nov. 2 presidential and congressional elections, it is considered highly unlikely that the new Congress will pass additional gun control measures.