If you get a chance, tune into Nightline tonight.

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: For 10 years, it has been illegal in this country to
manufacture or distribute some of the most deadly semi-automatic guns
in the world. The majority of the public supports this ban and at
least by some measures, gun violence has abated. So why are most of
the Congress, the President, and the Democratic contender for the
White House all looking the other way while this law is set to expire
next week, returning these assault weapons to the streets?

In 1994, Congress passed, and President Clinton signed the assault
weapons ban, effectively making 19 different types of semiautomatic
firearms and high-capacity magazines illegal. Of course, this wasn't a
complete ban - guns already on the market were exempted and an
additional 650 types of semiautomatic weapons commonly used for
self-defense, hunting and target practice were allowed. Critics and
supporters of the ban agreed that the law had flaws. But now, 10 years
later, polls show most Americans support the law.


--
Jonathan Ganz (j gan z @ $ail no w.c=o=m)
http://www.sailnow.com
"If there's no wind, row."