WASHINGTON, DC – In just four days, the ten-year-old ban on assault weapons will expire, once again allowing these dangerous weapons to flood streets.  Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today reiterated her commitment to preserving the ban and called for immediate Congressional action.

“For ten years, we have kept these dangerous weapons off our streets and out of the hands of criminals.  This ban has saved lives and there can be no stronger argument in renewing it,” said Lowey.  “But in just four days, this ban will expire.  While Congress does nothing, these weapons will again plague our communities.  We can’t allow this to happen.”

On September 13, 1994, the federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 went into effect, including a provision that banned the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain semiautomatic firearms with large capacity ammunition magazines.  In 1999, the National Institute of Justice reported that the criminal use of banned assault weapons declined after the law went into effect and that the ban may have contributed to a reduction in the gun murder rate and murders of police officers by criminals with assault weapons.

The ban is set to expire on September 13, 2004, unless renewed by Congress.  Thus far, the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives has refused to schedule any floor action on this important crime-fighting tool. 

Last month, Lowey joined local police officers and community members in New Rochelle to call for immediate action on renewing the ban. 

“Law enforcement and victims’ groups agree:  this ban saves lives,” said Lowey.  “Without action, the ban will expire in four days and these weapons will be on the streets in five days.  Time is running out.  We need to get serious about reducing crime and keeping these guns out of the hands of criminals.”