Schumer: President is Reneging on Pledge to Renew Assault Weapons Ban

SCHUMER: PRESIDENT IS RENEGING ON PLEDGE TO RENEW ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

White House SAP opposes amendments to Gun Immunity Bill, effectively killing effort to renew assault weapons ban; In 2000, President pledged to extend assault weapon ban

The President, who accuses others of flip-flopping, does a giant one of his own

US Senator Charles Schumer today said the President is flip-flopping on his 2000 campaign pledge to support renewing the federal assault weapons ban. Last night, the White House issued a "Statement of Administration Policy" (SAP) opposing the effort now underway in the Senate to renew the assault weapon ban. The SAP says that the gun immunity bill being debated on the Senate floor should not be amended at all.

"We've got Republicans and Democrats coming together right now in an effort to renew the assault weapons ban. But the President is now throwing water on that effort and is breaking a promise he made during his 2000 campaign to support renewing the assault weapons ban," Schumer said. "For the President to SAY he's for the assault weapon ban but then ACT against it is a flip flop if there ever was one. When it comes to flip-flopping, the White House is now a glass house and the President better think twice the next time he accuses anyone of changing positions."

"For the last year, the worst-kept secret in Washington was that the gun immunity bill would be the way the assault weapons ban got renewed," Schumer said. "There is no other way for the assault weapons ban to advance in the Congress before it expires. The White House statement basically ensures that the assault weapons ban will lapse and that one of the most effective crime-fighting tools we have will be taken off the table."

"To let the assault weapons ban expire just as we are realizing its benefits would be a major setback in the crime reductions we've had over the last decade. The fact of the matter is that there is no legitimate use for these weapons. That was as true in 1994 as it is today. The bottom line is that the assault weapons ban is working and we are safer because of it," Schumer said