FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1996                             (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

   AG RENO ATTACKS HOUSE VOTE TO REPEAL THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
                                 
     After the House voted to eliminate the federal ban on assault
weapons, Attorney General Janet Reno made the following statement: 

     "Today's vote was a big step backwards for public safety.

     "In October of 1994, Congress acted with courage and passed a
tough, smart crime bill to put 100,000 police on the street and
take assault weapons off the street.

     "In less than two years, we have made real progress -- by
funding more than 33,000 new police officers and cutting assault
weapons traced to crime by 18 percent.

     "But last year, the House of Representatives voted to end our
program to put 100,000 police on the streets.  Now they want to
repeal an assault weapons ban that is saving lines.

     "That would mean mean fewer cops on the beat, and more guns on
the street. 

     "This is a contest between special interests and the public
interest.  That's an easy choice: we are standing up for the
American people -- and President Clinton will veto any repeal
attempt in its tracks."

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96-130