Posted on 09/20/2007 12:42:47 PM PDT by neverdem
The International Association of Chiefs of Police urged Congress to pass `an effective assault weapons ban.'
The International Association of Chiefs of Police issued a report Wednesday calling for a ban on assault weapons, arguing it will make officers safer by reducing the ``firepower available to criminals.''
The report hits home this week in South Florida, where law enforcement officials are still reeling from the murder of one of their own. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, a former police officer and police director, gets angry when he talks about the fact that the gun used to kill Officer Jose Somohano was legal.
''There's absolutely no reason I can see having these weapons out on the street,'' he said.
His voice rising, he brings up Shawn LaBeet, the man who killed Somohano and shot three other officers: ``This guy just went to a gun store with a fake ID and bought one.''
Somohano was killed with a Mak-90, a modified assault rifle that was not covered by the assault weapons ban that expired three years ago. A bill in Congress now would ban it, but that legislation hasn't made it out of committee.
Police say LaBeet bought nine guns in the past year, including six assault rifles.
Local police say the number of murders committed with assault weapons has been steadily rising since the ban expired in 2004. They've become popular on the street, Miami Police Chief John Timoney said.
''It's become fashionable, if you will,'' he said. ``It's almost the gun of choice.''
In Miami, four people were killed with assault weapons in 2003. Last year, 15 murders were committed with assault weapons. So far this year, 12 people have been killed with high-powered guns.
Dr. David Shatz, a University of Miami trauma surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital, sees the trend in the emergency room.
''The appearance of violent crime has dropped in half in the last six or seven years,'' he said. ``But assault weapon injuries seem to be increasing.''
Without an assault weapon ban, local law enforcement officers say they're forced to ramp up their own arsenals.
Miami police recently decided to allow officers to carry assault rifles. Last year, the Broward Sheriff's Office allowed deputies to carry them. Fort Lauderdale police have been allowed to for six years.
Miami-Dade police have plans to do the same, Alvarez said. But he doesn't think that will solve the problem, because officers can't carry them on every call.
''They're not going to get out of their cars on a traffic stop with an assault rifle slung over their shoulder,'' he said. ``They're not going to approach a house with an assault rifle in their hands.''
Local law enforcement officials say they're looking to Congress for an answer.
''This is not a local issue. It has local implications, obviously. A police officer was just killed here,'' said Timoney, an ardent gun control advocate.
``The resolution of this is in the nation's capital. But there's no appetite to address that.''
U.S. Reps. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton; Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, and Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, all said Wednesday they support a new assault weapon ban.
''That officer was killed by an assault weapon that shouldn't have been in anybody's hands, at all,'' Hastings said angrily Wednesday.
The National Rifle Association was provided with a copy of the IACP report, but did not return phone calls for comment. Several Republican lawmakers also did not return phone calls.
“There’s absolutely no reason I can see having these weapons out on the street,”
How about to help keep the govt. out of our daily business?
Read The Federal Siege at Ruby Ridge where the f.b.i., b.a.t.f. and other law agencies went beyond stupid.
HOw about to help keep govt from becoming too oppressive?
How about to help keep you and yours safe when good cops aren’t around to help?
Comment Removed by Moderator
Well, what do you expect from a ex Boston coat holder for various liberal/leftist/Democrats? How about for their Constitutional intended purpose? To violently overthrow the government and its organs of oppression? You know, like an armed militia? On the move? Like half the police, and half the military?
Translation: TAXPAYERS PAY FOR POLICE CHIEF TO PARTY AT A CONFERENCE.
(chief’s try to “look busy”)
His honor, the good Mayor doesn't seem to comprehend that the right of the people to keep and bear arms does not hinge upon his understanding of anything.
“The International Association of Chiefs of Police”
There’s the problem right there...the International Associatioin. Globalist lickspittle.
Not Boston. NYC & Philly agrees with my memory. Pardon the Wiki reference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Timoney
Police Chiefs are a different catagory altogether. Most have mediocre police skills at best but excel in office politics. Also, in many (liberal) cities, having a leftist political orientation is a big plus for promotion. I wonder how many police chiefs actually believe the bravo sierra they spout. I suspect more than a few say the stupid things they do just to impress the city council and the liberal voters who elected them.
This jack-booted thug should get pepper-sprayed in his arrogant, fascist looking face.
More cops get killed by illegal aliens than get killed with “assault” weapons, and what they’re talking about here are semi-automatic weapons...one squeeze of the trigger, one round. Assault weapons are fully automatic machine guns.
I’ll say it again....more cops get killed at traffic stops by armed illegal aliens or drunk driver illegal aliens than get killed by semi-automatic rifles.
I’d rather see a nuclear attack.....less damaging.
We just came out of a 10 year period where so-called "assault weapons" were "banned". Of course he who controls the meaning of words controls the debate. What was "banned" and how was it "banned"? The answer: guns that were too ugly.
Putting the Second Amendment aside, to the supporters of the "ban", just what do you want to "ban" and are you willing to pay to confiscate these weapons? Please tell me why one of these firearms should qualify under the last "ban" and why the other one didn't:
Firearm A:
Firearm B: 
Let me add my thanks to Model1sales.com for the hotlinks.
Can't make up your mind dipstick?
The solution is not banning certain kinds of weapons, because criminals will not obey the ban. Duh. The problem is, the profile for someone who would use that type of weapon on a cop is someone who has worked his way up to murder. Possibly already committing some. We always hear about how these cop killers are recently released from prison, or have a rap sheet a mile long of assault and robbery arrests. If the cops and the courts did a better job of putting scum away after a couple of car thefts or burglaries (which they never bother to even investigate) they probably would not have to face hoodlums with AKs or other weapons. Get ‘em while their young and less dangerous.
I knew he was a’ortherner!
This guys a farking tool
The police know that criminals are NEVER going to give up their guns. I don't think any of us will either. Times have changed since the first ban. We're at war with people whose only purpose in life is to kill Americans. We are being invaded by criminal illegal aliens. The government is filled with arrogant, greedy, power hungry, traitors, criminals and cowards, and they think we're going to give our guns up. HA HA HA! Not in this life time!!
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