The Hindu : International : Weapons ban lapses

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Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

International

International

Weapons ban lapses

Baltimore: There are boom times ahead at the Christian Soldier gun shop, a small emporium with a wide array of lethal weapons and a display window advertising its telephone number: 661-AMMO. At midnight on Monday, a 10-year federal ban on some types of assault weapons will almost certainly expire, and the proprietor of Christian Soldier, Rob Shiflett, expects a stream of customers for newly legal civilian versions of AK-47s and M-16s. Mr. Shiflett, a former army doctor, has received about a hundred queries from interested buyers. There are 1.5 million assault weapons in private hands in America. Gun enthusiasts describe them as collectibles, no different from other military memorabilia. Supporters of gun control say they are the weapon of choice for drug dealers and gangs, and that many have been used in the killing of police officers. Gun control advocates argue that the ban produced a decline in the use of assault guns in crimes over the last decade. Lobby groups have taken out full-page newspaper advertisements showing Osama bin Laden clutching an assault rifle, and warning: ``Any terrorist in the U.S. will be free to walk into any gun shop, and buy an AK-47, Uzi or other killing machine.''

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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