Child Shot with Assault Weapon

This week a 12 year old Fremont Ohio boy was shot at a family gathering while playing "war" with assault rifles. According to the News Messenger, police say there were over 30 different types of weapons seized.
As the Government ignores the loss of life and injury from these weapons, Ohioans and Ohio law enforcement continue to ask for strengthening and renewal of the Federal Assault Weapon Ban before it expires on September 13.

Incidents like this one confirm the opinion of more than 69% of Ohioans surveyed and 87 Ohio police chiefs and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police who favor strengthening the ban. The Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) commissioned the survey.

"This child should have been protected. We hope for his recovery from his physical wounds and hope he can also survive the trauma of the violence" said Toby Hoover, Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence. "Ohio gun owners and non-gun owners alike do not want military-style weapons in our neighborhoods."

Unless President Bush and Congress act, the federal ban on semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips will expire on September 13, 2004.

This week the Ohio Columbus Dispatch editorialized that "Bush is on record as supporting the ban's renewal, but House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says his fellow Texan, the president, never asked him to push for renewal in the House. DeLay says there are not enough votes there, anyway, to renew the ban. One might think the president has little influence with the House GOP. The charade is obvious, but that doesn't mean everybody in Congress should play along."

"Ohioans deserve action to ban these weapons. We all want to know why someone can have 30 weapons to play `war' in their homes. These weapons put all of us at risk" said Hoover. "It is past time for the President and Congress to ban all assault weapons. Not to do so is an assault on all of us."

New Survey Finds 71% of Ohio Residents Support Assault Weapons Ban

A new survey of likely Ohio voters found that 71% of Ohio residents support renewing the federal assault weapons ban, and 69% favor strengthening it to outlaw so-called "post-ban" guns. In addition, solid majorities of union households (69%), military members and their families (62%), NASCAR fans (64%) and even gun owners (50%) support banning military-style firearms such as Uzis and AK-47s.

The Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) commissioned the survey. The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence (OCAGV) distributed the findings today. A fact sheet detailing findings among key demographic groups is attached.

"Ohio residents are finding common ground on ways to prevent gun violence. Gun owners and non-gun owners alike do not want military-style weapons on our streets," said Toby Hoover, Executive Director, OCAGV. "George W. Bush keeps telling us he supports banning assault weapons. Time is running out for him to act."

The poll included responses from 400 Ohio residents, and has a margin of error of +/- 4.9 %. Lake Snell Perry & Associates, a national research firm, conducted the survey on behalf of the Consumer Federation of America and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

Promises of Support; No Action
Unless President Bush and Congress act, the federal ban on semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips will expire two months from now -- on September 13, 2004.

George W. Bush has repeatedly pledged his support for banning assault weapons. During the 2000 campaign, Mr. Bush said "It makes no sense for assault weapons to be around our society." The White House has repeated the President's support several times, most recently in June.

But when the President had a chance to back up his words with action, he urged Congress to defeat the assault weapons ban. In March, the U.S. Senate passed a renewed ban as an amendment to a gun industry immunity bill. Rather than keep his word, the President bowed to NRA pressure and issued a Statement of Administration Policy that called the amendment "unacceptable."

"The majority of Ohioans support this important public safety issue and the administration and congress should represent us as promised," said Hoover.