[2banana]

"Banning guns addresses a fundamental right of all Americans to feel safe." ~~Senator Diane Feinstein, 1993

"If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them....'Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in', I would have done it." ~~Senator Feinstein, 1995

[MileHi]

As Senator Carl Levin noted early this year, allowing the ban to expire will "inevitably lead to a rise in gun crimes." Ratcheting up the fear factor to a new level, Senator Charles Schumer claims the ban is one of "the most effective measures against terrorism that we have."

No evidence to support either claim, of course.

[pabianice]

Other HCI - Handgun Control Inc. "Words of wisdom"

"Our main agenda is to have all guns banned. We must use whatever means possible. It doesn't matter if you have to distort the facts or even lie. Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed."Sara Brady, Chairman, Handgun Control Inc,In a letter to Senator Howard Metzenbaum

The National Educator, January 1994, Page 3."Our ultimate goal--total control of handguns in the United States--is going to take time ... The first problem is to slow down the increasing number of handguns being produced and sold in this country. The second problem is to get handguns registered, and the final problem is to make the possession of all handguns, and all handgun ammunition totally illegal."Nelson T Shields Founding Chair of HCI, in a letter to Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Founding Chair of HCI - Handgun Control Inc.

"We're here to tell the NRA their nightmare is true! ... We're going to hammer guns on the anvil of relentless legislative strategy. We're going to beat guns into submission!"Charles Schumer, United States CongressmanHCI Handgun Control Inc.Board of GovernorsOn NBC Nightly News, November 30, 1993"

There is no reason for anyone in this country -- anyone except a police officer or a military person -- to buy, to own, to have, to use a handgun ... The only way to control handgun use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to change the Constitution.Michael Gartner, President of NBC NewsHCI Handgun Control Inc. Trusteein USA Today, January 16, 1992

"If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them, Mr. and Mrs. America turn them all in, I would have done it."Dianne Feinstein, United States SenatorHCI - Handgun Control Inc.Board Member

"We believe that if any gun dealer, manufacturer, or gun owners wants to test the law in court, they should be given every opportunity. Arrest them. Put the burden on them to prove the law is too vague."Louis Tolley, HCI Handgun Control Inc.On HCI's position concerning the Roberti-Roos assault weapons ban, 1991.

"We must be able to arrest people before they commit crimes. By registering guns and knowing who has them we can do that. ...If they have guns they are pretty likely to commit a crime." Mary Ann Carlson, Vermont State SenatorHCI Board of Governors

"For target shooting, that's okay. Get a license and go to the range. For defense of the home, that's why we have police departments."James Brady, Husband of HCI Director Sarah BradyPARADE Magazine, June 26, 1994

[Scenic Sounds]

Functionally the banned semiautomatic guns are the same as other non-banned semiautomatic guns, firing the exact same bullets with the same rapidity and producing the exact same damage.

Setting aside the Constitutional issues, if the above statement is true, each side of this dispute has a question to answer:

Proponents of the ban should answer the following question: What is the purpose of arbitrarily banning some rifles when functionally identical rifles remain legal?

Opponents of the ban should answer the following question: What practical difference does it make that some rifles are banned if functionally identical rifles remain legal and can be used as an alternative?