Mortigo Winabaygo

Myth of the day

Myth: Assault weapons are a serious problem in the U.S.
Fact: In 1994, before the Federal “assault weapons ban,” you were eleven (11) times
more likely to be beaten to death than to be killed by an “assault weapon.”
Fact: In the first year since the ban was lifted, murders declined 3.6%, and violent crime
1.7%.
Fact: Nationally, “assault weapons” were used in 1.4% of crimes involving firearms and
0.25% of all violent crime before the enactment of any national or state “assault
weapons” ban. In many major urban areas (San Antonio, Mobile, Nashville, etc.) and
some entire states (Maryland, New Jersey, etc.) the rate is less than 0.1%.
Fact: Even weapons misclassified as “assault weapons” (common in the former Federal
and California “assault weapons” confiscations) are used in less than 1% of all
homicides.
Fact: Only 1.4% of recovered crime weapons are models covered under the 1994
“assault weapons” ban.
Fact: In Virginia, no surveyed inmates had carried an “assault weapon” during the
commission of their last crime, despite 20%
admitting that they had previously owned such
weapons.
Fact: Most “assault weapons” have no more
firepower or killing capacity than the average
hunting rifle and “play a small role in overall
violent crime.”
Fact: Even the government agrees. “... the
weapons banned by this legislation [1994
Federal Assault Weapons ban - since repealed]
were used only rarely in gun crimes”