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<br />(SEMIAUTOMATICS, continued' fi-olm page one)
<br />MM If k N CM
<br />W'Ifite House Press Secretary Marlin Fitz-
<br />water sa1*d the prohibition, wouad, rem M' M" effect..
<br />until the completion of a review to determine if the
<br />rapid-&e guns, as required by law, have a legiti-
<br />mate sportin,g useV
<br />�M
<br />Lawmen, ranpag rmm police on the street in, At a, Capitol Hill he mig April 5, Rep. William Hughes
<br />"Los Angeles, to Federal drug agents New York, (D-N.,J.) said, 6 4 These assault weapons are designed for one
<br />0 IP 0 pur'' ose — to, kill as many human beings as possible as
<br />complam' that a, growm,g number of crimmals — quickly as possible."
<br />particularly drug lords — arm themselves with so-
<br />PIP
<br />called semiautomatic "'ass weapons. Registration Law Proposed
<br />Some Congressmen Anger
<br />While the decision W expand the ban was hailed by gun
<br />control advocates, it drew an angry response from a, group of
<br />about a dozen congressmen who conferred later in the day
<br />w ith White House Chief of'Staff John Sununu,.,
<br />with
<br />Rep. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) toild reporters. I 'GI believe the
<br />President .. ., us on the edge ofbireaMmg with the conunitment
<br />he made to, the Amefican people during, the campaign — to,
<br />uphold and abide" by the constitutional night, to bear arms.
<br />Others, including Sens. Jmes M,cClure (R-Idaho) and
<br />Rep., In Marlence (R-font., simply said Bush's action was
<br />a mistake and, that instead, ofleurbimig guns he should plush
<br />legislation that would crack down on c rMilinals.,
<br />Bush, a lifetime member, of the anti-gun control National
<br />Rifle Association (N RA , had initially opposed a ban. But he
<br />switched following please from police groups and a recommen-
<br />dation from his new anti-drug director,, William Bennett.
<br />-- . The President, has repeatedly said in recent weeks that, a
<br />balance must, be found that would protect the rights of
<br />sportsmen, and safeguard the concerns of police offi,cers.
<br />According to the NRA, there are more than 30 'oax
<br />semiautomatics, in the U.S. that are owned by "law-abiding
<br />sportsmen." These guns normally carry magazines of four
<br />rounds. The NRA has not said how many semiautomatics are
<br />owned by non-lawabidi 9 ing crimnala, thugs., and crazies.
<br />Police say a rising number of criminals have armed them-
<br />selves with semiautomatic "assault weapons," which have
<br />magazInes carrying upwards of 20 rounds.
<br />Despite that difference, there is no univers al dermition for
<br />di assault weaponsi" and Fitzwater said April 5 that the
<br />Administration, has yet to settle an one itself.
<br />Me�tze�nbaum Wants Police To Help
<br />Administration, Develop Proposals
<br />On April , Sen., Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) asked
<br />for a delay in a markup of his assault weapons bill to give law
<br />enforcement more time to work with the Administration and
<br />offer proposals which would make it even tougher.
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