Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 9, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Nelsa Brodie, Washington State Patrol, 360-570-3108

Gov. Gary Locke’s Statement on Assault Weapons Ban Set to Expire Monday

Gov. Gary Locke today issued a statement on the assault weapons ban set to expire Monday, Sept. 13, as scheduled.

Representatives of Congress have stated that they will not hold a vote to renew the 10-year ban that was signed into law in 1994 by President Clinton.

The law outlawed 19 types of assault weapons, including specified military-style assault weapons and semiautomatic firearms with specific features like high-capacity ammunition magazines.

The governor’s statement:

“I urge President Bush and Congress to take action and renew the assault weapons ban.

“Assault weapons serve no legitimate sporting or hunting purposes and have no place in our communities. Unless Congress acts immediately, the firearms will be put back in the hands of terrorists and criminals – putting our homes, citizens and police officers in greater danger.

“In the last decade we’ve made significant progress to reduce violent crime rates and the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines has been a crucial component of this strategy.

“If Congress allows the ban to expire, police departments across the country will see an increase in violent crimes among citizens and our officers will be outgunned by criminals.

“We simply cannot let this happen.”

Washington State Patrol Chief Lowell Porter echoed the governor’s statement, “The original intent of this law was to remove these very dangerous weapons from our communities,” explained Porter.

“With the realization that we live in a post-9-11 world and that the original concerns which enacted this ban are still very valid, I join with Governor Locke and other law enforcement leaders at the city, county, state and national level in expressing the belief that this ban should be renewed.

“It’s all about protecting our friends, families and children from violent crimes.”

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