Tennessee's police chiefs want ban reinstated on assault weapons

Dyersburg Police Chief Bobby Williamson and investigator Mark Reynolds, who is in charge of property and evidence for the DPD, hold two of the military-style assault weapons that Tennessee Chiefs of Police believe should be banned from public sale. [Click to enlarge]

Williamson, who is this year's president of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, said his organization wants the federal ban that expired last week on 19 types of assault weapons reinstated. The group also wants controls to stay in effect upon the amount of rounds that can be held in magazines and a stay continued on certain types of ammunition. Williamson said his organization was joined in this legislative action by most sheriffs in Tennessee.

The 10-year-old federal ban came into existence during the administration of President Bill Clinton. The law's chief sponsor, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, pressed for the ban after three horrific shooting rampages in her state. A 1984 shooting at a McDonald's in San Diego County killed 21 people. Five years later, five people were killed at a Stockton elementary school yard, and then in 1993, a San Francisco law firm was invaded by a gunman who killed eight and wounded six.

Former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan wrote to all members of the House to encourage them to pass the ban at the time. Under the federal ban, weapons were limited to 10-round ammunition magazines and could not include two or more of the following characteristics: a folding or telescoping stock; a pistol grip; a bayonet mount; a flash suppressor; or a grenade launcher, all features found on military weapons. Firearms with those features continued to be sold to law enforcement agencies and the armed forces. It also outlawed the sale of certain types of armor-penetrating ammunition.

The ban, however, was set to expire 10 years later if it wasn't renewed in Congress, and President George W. Bush never pushed Congressional leaders to move the renewal legislation. Seven states have their own assault-weapons bans.

There was heated debate from a number of advocacy groups on whether the ban helped reduce crime; but Williamson pointed to statistics from the U. S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that indicated within the 10-year period of its existence violent crimes with these weapons decreased by 66 percent.

"I support hunters and I am opposed to gun control -- to a point," Williamson said. "What we need now is some common sense."

He was joined in that sentiment by Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt who asked the question, "What does anybody need with Teflon-coated (armor piercing) bullets? Are they going out in the woods to hunt engine blocks?"

Such penetrating shells pierce body armor worn by law enforcement officers.

"Our vests aren't bullet proof," Williamson said. "Just bullet resistant."

Williamson warned that military-style assault rifles were the weapons of choice for gang members in major metropolitan areas who primarily secured them through theft. These gangs are now moving gradually toward smaller towns and cities where there are less law enforcement officers to oversee and control them.

Criminal gangs armed with assault weapons in a small town like Dyersburg?

"I never would have imagined we would have a hostage situation like the one that took place at Dyersburg State," Williamson said.

Other major initiatives the group is championing this year include a push for expanded early childhood-development programs in school systems. Williamson said studies show a direct correlation between pre-kindergarten education and a reduction in overall crime statistics. TACP also wants more stringent laws for assaults on police officers and has endorsed Gov. Phil Bredesen's concept of a task force on methamphetamine abuse.