In a message dated 9/16/03 1:12:43 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Scary people, eh wot? >>
indeed i did not know that a rifle was a "WOMD" yesterday they had a press conference in Rockville MD: Assault weapons ban pushed by Steven T. Dennis Staff Writer Sep. 17, 2003 Maryland lawmakers are pushing for a new state assault weapons ban, pointing to last year's sniper attacks for ammunition. "I can think of no greater memorial for the sniper victims," said Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, standing outside the county courthouse complex in Rockville on Monday. The snipers terrorized the community with a single assault weapon, Duncan (D) said. "One weapon did that. Ten people were killed and many others were injured from that weapon. How was it possible that anyone could get an assault rifle like this?" Duncan said the sad fact is the the Bushmaster rifle used in the shooting was a legal knockoff of the AR-15, a gun banned under federal law. The federal ban is set to expire in a year, and efforts to extend the ban have stalled in Congress. Duncan urged the passage of the ban to "protect Marylanders from these weapons of mass destruction." "It's time we understood the difference between handguns and shotguns, which people feel they need for self defense or hunting, and assault weapons," said Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler (D), adding that there is no reason for a civilian to have an AK-47 or an Uzi. State Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown said his bill would be significantly more strict than the federal ban. The federal law bans weapons with two or more assault characteristics, such as a pistol grip. Garagiola's bill would ban weapons with one or more assault characteristics. "Our goal is not to take away a hunting weapon," said Del. Neil Quinter (D-Dist. 13) of Columbia, who is sponsoring the legislation in the House. continues: http://www.gazette.net/200338/montgomerycty/updates/177923-1.html (Quinter was Diane Feinstein's Chief Legal Council)
