Allen Statement on the Assault Weapons Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA) today issued the following statement on the extension of the "Assault Weapons Ban:"

"S. 1805, which we are in the midst of debating, is good legislation and I am a co-sponsor of this bill. It will help curb frivolous litigation against a lawful American industry and the thousands of workers it employs. Imagine if General Motors were to be held liable for every accident caused by a reckless or drunk driver. Likewise, businesses legally engaged in manufacturing, importing or selling firearms should not be liable for the harm caused by people who use that firearm in an unsafe or criminal manner. This legislation does carefully preserve the right of individuals to have their day in court with civil liability actions for injury or danger caused by negligence or defective product, a standard in product liability law.

"Adding amendments such as an extension of the 'Assault Weapons Ban' threatens the chances of this important legislation ever becoming law. This bill is too important to be saddled with 'poison pill' amendments.

"Four years ago, in the midst of the 2000 election, I said that my goal in fighting criminals was to enforce, not repeal, existing laws. And, indeed, in Virginia we have seen that incarcerating violent felons is the best crime reduction policy. I would support reauthorization of the 'Assault Weapons Ban' in its current form if this legislation had proven effective in reducing violent crime. I have reviewed the thoughtful claims and extensive assertions of proponents and opponents of this law. I have concluded, after a review of the evidence, that this symbolic ban of 19 firearms chosen for cosmetic reasons is a meaningless, toothless law that has virtually no impact on crime.

"I have decided, therefore, to vote against extension of the 'Assault Weapons Ban.'

"Police reports and federal felon surveys have consistently shown that so-called assault weapons are used in only one to two percent of violent crimes. Crime victim surveys indicate the figure is only one-quarter of 1 percent (0.25). Murders with knives, clubs and hands outnumber those with 'assault weapons' by over 20-to-1.

"Put another way, notwithstanding this 10-year ban of 19 firearms, criminals continue to commit criminal acts, they just do so with other weapons; with other guns, knives or objects.

"The simple fact is that the assault weapons ban only attacks the cosmetic features of a gun, banning some guns even though they function exactly the same as hundreds of other semi-automatic firearms.

"It is also worth noting that we are not talking about the fully automatic firearms or machine guns that many Americans view as assault weapons-the Uzi and the AK-47--they were already banned by previous laws. Nor are we talking about any firearms that are readily or easily converted to fully automatic firearms. Sale of such firearms is already banned under current federal law.

"I recently watched a CNN interview that showed an individual firing a gun that was banned under the 1994 law and a gun that is readily available today. Both guns produced the same results with the same impact. The only difference is that one had a different type of grip, stock or bayonet lock than the other. Therefore, the banning of these accessories is purely cosmetic. The focus should be on criminals not guns, and it should be on programs that work, like Project Exile and the Abolition of Parole.

"I am also concerned that by reauthorizing this gun ban legislation, it will serve as a platform inviting added restrictions on Second Amendment rights. The current law, then, only makes sense if the ultimate goal it is to ban more and more guns in the future, something I cannot support. This can be seen in several proposals and amendments now before Congress to expand the current assault weapons ban - proposals that permanently ban a large number of guns that citizens lawfully use for competition, hunting or self-defense. I have a long and consistent record of supporting the rights of Virginians and Americans to protect their families and themselves, and I am committed to protecting those rights of law-abiding American citizens."