To the editor:
In 1994, under the leadership of the late American senator Dianne FeinsteinD-Calif., and co-sponsors, the Senate passed a ban on assault weapons, including the semi-automatic AR-15. Republican members of Congress who did not support such a ban added amendments. To secure a majority of votes, Feinstein agreed to numerous exceptions, including a 10-year sunset provision.
Six years later, during the 2000 presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Republican nominee, was asked whether, if he were president, he would vote to extend the ban in 2004. He said he would.
In 2004, House Speaker Dennis Hastert refused to even bring an extension of the ban to a vote in Congress. He and other Republican leaders feared that if Bush did not vote for the extension, voters would label him a liar. If he voted for the extension, pro-gun voters would not be happy with Bush and might not vote in the 2004 election.
Since 2004, countless mass murderers have used assault weapons to kill too many people, including children in elementary schools.
On July 13, former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt by a 20-year-old registered Republican, Thomas Crooks, using an AR-15 assault rifle. One rally attendee was killed and two others were injured by the same assault weapon.
Robert Doyle
Franklin
This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Franklin resident says it’s time to reconsider ban on assault rifles
