Nice e-mail from Sen. Rodham Clinton's office

[phylny]

I had written to Senator Rodham Clinton's office regarding the assault weapons ban expiring today and got back this reply:

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Thank you for contacting me regarding the expiration of the ban on
the sale of assault weapons. I share your concern that assault
weapons present a clear threat to public safety. I have joined with
the leaders of 75 New York state law enforcement agencies and the
New York State Association of Chiefs of Police in calling on
President Bush to keep the promise he made in 2000 to push for
the renewal of the assault weapons ban. With the short amount of
time left before the ban expires on September 13th, it is clear that
he will break his promise to all of us and to the hundreds of
thousands of law enforcement personnel across the country who
work to protect us every day.

One in five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty is
killed with an assault weapon. The assault ban is a public safety
initiative that works. According to a report issued by the Brady
Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the assault weapons ban passed
ten years ago has resulted in a substantial decline in the use of
those weapons in crimes. Chief Richard P. Carey of the Glens
Falls Police Department, who is currently President of the New
York State Association of Chiefs of Police, said in support of the
extension of the ban, ". . . assault weapons have no useful purpose
on the streets of the United States and on the streets of New York
State. They were designed as anti-personnel weapons and they do
nothing to make our cities and towns safer."

Law enforcement officers know this ban has made their work
safer, which is why so many of them, throughout the country, have
joined in support of the ban. At the same time that the Bush
Administration is abandoning the assault weapons ban, allowing
them to flood the streets, President Bush is cutting funding for the
COPS program that has put thousands of additional police officers
on patrol.

Extending and improving upon the assault weapons ban is
essential. There is no reasonable argument that can be made
against it. The assault weapons ban does not prevent anyone who
can otherwise own a gun from owning one. People do not hunt
with assault weapons. Assault weapons are designed for one
purpose only and that is to kill people.

Again, thank you for writing. Please be assured that I will
continue to fight to protect our law enforcement officials and to
protect our safety by fighting for the reauthorization of the ban on
assault weapons. Please check my website at
http://clinton.senate.gov for updates on this and other important
issues being discussed before the United States Senate.
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It's nice to have some of these facts on hand when rebutting the issue.