By Providence (RI) Mayor David N. Cicilline
September 27, 2004

Earlier this month, the Assault Weapons Ban, in place since 1994, expired. Like many mayors across the country, I firmly believe this is a move in the wrong direction. Because of that I sent a letter to gun and ammunition dealers across Rhode Island asking them to voluntarily refrain from selling the assault weapons and ammunition banned for the past ten years.

I hope you will join me in this effort to appeal to the public duty of these merchants and seek a voluntary continuation of the assault weapons ban.

With the expiration of this law, it is now legal for stores in our cities to once again sell a range of weapon of incredible firepower. But just because it is legal, does not mean it is right. Because something is permitted, does not mean it should happen.

I asked the dealers to put aside the contentious debate over the ability and degree to which government can limit gun sales and ownership. We can, and probably will, debate that issue another day. We need to put aside the semantic debate over the term "semiautomatic assault weapons." The only issue here is what makes it into stores and onto the street.

The features of these assault weapons are not needed by hunters, or for target practice. But in the hands of a criminal, or a terrorist, they could wreak immense harm. Because of the power of the banned weapons, and because of their appeal to criminals, police are particularly at risk with the reintroduction of these guns to the market. We owe it to those who put their lives on the line protecting our community to not add to the dangers they face.

In recent years we have made great strides reducing crime in Providence, particularly gun- and gang-related crime. In the first six months of this year, we reduced the murder rate by 78 percent. Through Community Policing we have been able to identify the sources of crime, and respond effectively. Thanks to the aggressive activity of our Gun Task Force we have been successful removing illegal guns from the streets. These gains will be severely challenged with the expiration of this ban. That is why the Providence Police Chief, and your Police Chief as well, urged Congress to renew the ban.

Given the dangers posed by these weapons, I do not think it is unreasonable, in the interest of public safety, to ask gun and ammunition dealers to take the practical step of not resuming the sale of the previously banned products. For ten years, their stores and their customers have lived with this law. Voluntarily continuing the ban will add greatly to public safety while not detracting anything from the current marketplace.

If the dealers we write to will not voluntarily accept the full range of limits of the expired ban, it is only fair to ask them to define a point at which they will draw the line, a point at which they will acknowledge lawful gun owners do not need weapons of a particular power.

Tragically, the deadline for national action has passed, but the opportunity for local action remains. I hope you will join me in asking gun dealers to take this simple step to make the streets of our cities safer.