WASHINGTON D.C. - The Second Amendment Task Force (SATF) of the U.S. House of Representatives, Co-Chaired by U.S. Congressman Dan Boren and U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, issued a letter this week to both President Obama and House Speaker Pelosi in opposition to any future attempt to reinstate a ban on the sale of assault weapons. Recent comments made by the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder, prompted the SATF to send the letter to House Leadership and the Administration saying that any attempt to reinstate such a ban would be absolutely unacceptable and in violation of the Second Amendment.
“As Co-Chair for the Second Amendment Task Force, I am absolutely opposed to targeting lawful gun ownership in any way especially when it entails renewing a failed policy that demonstrated no tangible impact on reducing crime in the United States. As law abiding gun owners, sportsmen, American citizens, and Members of Congress, we firmly believe that one of many responsibilities with which the American people have entrusted government is to protect their Constitutional right to keep and bear arms,” said Congressman Boren.
“Today, the Second Amendment Task Force sent a unified and clear message to the Administration and House leadership expressing our grave concerns with any attempt to reinstate the inaccurately described ‘assault weapons’ ban. As co-chair of SATF, we will block attempts that chip away at our constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. I urge the Attorney General to revisit his comments about reinstating the ban and instead focus on providing law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to prevent the illegal use and transfer of firearms,” said Congressman Paul Broun.
Although advocates of reinstating the ban argue it would reduce crime, studies have shown that deaths related to the use of assault weapons showed negligible difference during the ten-year period while the ban was in place. Furthermore, though the words “assault weapons” conjure images of a specific style of firearm, in fact the weapons outlawed by the original ban functioned the same as any semiautomatic, fully legal hunting rifle.
The Second Amendment Task Force was formed this year in the House to monitor how any legislation might affect gun ownership rights and to give gun owners a strong and focused voice in the 111th Congress. The bipartisan task force includes a group of Members from a wide spectrum of backgrounds that represent a large geographical area:
Democrats
Congressman Dan Boren (Co-Chair)
Congressman Jason Altmire
Congressman Travis Childers
Congressman Brad Ellsworth
Congressman Jim Matheson
Congressman Mike McIntyre
Republicans
Congressman Paul Broun (Co-Chair)
Congressman Rep. Rob Bishop
Congressman John Boozman
Congressman Steve King
Congressman Steve Scalise
Congressman John Carter
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