Assault weapon bans work. In 1989, when President Bush stopped the import of certain assault rifles, the number of imported assault rifles traced to crime dropped by 45 percent in one year. After the 1994 ban, there were 18 percent fewer assault weapons traced to crime in the first eight months of 1995 than were traced in the same period in 1994.
 

Assault weapons are not just "ugly guns." Semi-automatic assault weapons are designed to maximize death and injury from a very rapid rate of fire. Assault weapons are designed to accommodate silencers and with military features such as grenade launchers, folding stocks, flash suppressors, barrel shrouds and bayonets which are all ludicrously unsuited for civilian use. In contrast, semi-automatic hunting rifles are designed to be fired from the shoulder and depend on the accurate shooting of one bullet at a time.

To kill five children and wound 29 others in a Stockton, California schoolyard in 1989. The AK-47 held 75 - that's right, 75 - bullets.
 

To kill eight people and wound six others at a San Francisco law firm in 1993. Two TEC-9's with 50-round magazines were used in the massacre.
 

To kill two CIA employees and wound three others outside the CIA's Langley, Virginia headquarters in 1993.
 

To kill four ATF special agents and wound 16 others at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, when the officers were attempting to serve warrants on the cult in 1993.

In two average days in America, more Americans die from guns than the total number of Americans who have died liberating Iraq.
 

In 2000, 94 Louisiana children and teens were shot to death. In January, the annual report card of the Brady Campaign united with the Million Mom March gave Louisiana an "F" grade for failing to protect children from guns. Only six other states received an "F." While Louisiana gun laws rank near the bottom in the country, Louisiana has one of the highest gun death rates for children and teens. (4/13/03).