ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN PROTECTS AGAINST JUVENILE VIOLENCE -- HOUSE ACTION IS " PROFOUND RECKLESSNESS"

For more information, contact:
The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation
Tel. (301) 589-6020
Fax (301) 589-5056

Click here for printer-friendly version

WASHINGTON -- "Congress' rush to vote to repeal the assault weapons ban is reckless legislating. Before Congress votes, it should consider that a majority of the most serious juvenile offenders own semi-automatic or automatic weapons, and more than one-third own assault-type weapons," said Eric E. Sterling, President of The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation.

"We are in a crisis of armed juvenile criminals and it is growing dramatically," said Sterling. The number of murders by juveniles more than doubled between 1984 and 1991. 78% of juvenile homicides involved a firearm in 1991. The number of firearm homicides by juveniles increased by almost 300% between 1984 and 1991. (Juvenile Offenders and Victims: A National Report, August 1995, National Center for Juvenile Justice, pp. 56-58.)

"The most dangerous juvenile criminals have had access to the most lethal weapons -- the types of weapons now controlled by the 1994 law. Congress should not repeal the Assault Weapons Ban," said Sterling. 55% of the inmates at maximum security juvenile correctional facilities reported that they owned a semi-automatic or automatic handgun and 35% reported they owned a semi-automatic or automatic rifle (typically an assault weapon) according to a 1993 study on gun acquisition among juveniles.

"Rushing to vote without weighing the impact of this measure is profound recklessness. Shouldn't responsible legislators find out what the nation's police say the assault weapons ban has accomplished before they vote? The House leadership is charging ahead to repeal the ban, leaving the members ignorant of the potential consequences," said Sterling.