Joseph Knollenberg: “today, the House will take up the much- publicized ban on so-called assault weapons. It is important to understand that…”

“today, the House will take up the much- publicized ban on so-called assault weapons. It is important to understand that, despite the way it looks, this debate has almost nothing to do with assault weapons themselves. Military-style semiautomatics are no more powerful, no more accurate, and no more deadly than dozens of other firearms that would remain legal under this bill. Furthermore, according to the FBI they are no more likely to be used in the commission of crime than other guns. So why are these weapons being singled out by the gun control advocates? Simply because they look scary and they make great props for soundbite politicians. That's it. To me, it is totally absurd that while hundreds of law-abiding citizens are being murdered, raped, and assaulted every day by criminals who should be in jail, we are debating whether or not to ban guns simply because they have bayonet mounts. Folks this isn't crime control, its petty symbolism at its worst, and I for one, refuse to be a part of it. ____________________”