"We're calling on the Congress to remake gun control a top priority now, and to reauthorize the assault weapons ban right away," said /*L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa*/.
During his presidential campaign, /*President Barack Obama*/ supported reinstating the federal ban that expired in 2004. In Mexico, /*U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton*/ supported a renewal of the ban.
Clinton thinks it will help stop the flow of arms used by the drug cartels. An AK-47 assault rifle's firepower was demonstrated by a law-enforcement officer. Law-enforcement universally supports the federal ban on civilians owning such weapons. Federal penalties are stiff.
"National law enforcement officers deserve better, to have a national law in place to insure the sentencings are strict. Federal law and sentencing convicted individuals serve 85 percent of the sentence," said LAPD Deputy Chief Terry Hara.
/*Senator Dianne Feinstein*/ (D-Calif.) authored the original ban and she is preparing legislation that would reinstate it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes the efforts.
The /*National Rifle Association*/ says politicians are making bogus assertions when they suggest that imposing this failed gun ban will stop violence in the U.S. and escalating violence caused by drug lords in Mexico. The only people this ban would affect are law-abiding Americans. Criminals will not be deterred by a gun ban, they claim.
Last week 65 House Democrats signed a letter opposing any renewal of the ban. So unless there is pressure from the Obama administration, a new national assault weapons ban is unlikely.
Eyewitness News Reporters John North and Subha Ravindhran contributed to this report.
