Kerry hits Bush over lapse of assault weapons ban

1.00pm

WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry rebuked President George W Bush on Monday for letting a ban on assault weapons expire and said his Republican rival paid for tax cuts by taking police off the streets and slashing anti-drug programmes.

Kerry, who will face Bush in the November 2 election, said the president had chosen "his powerful and well-connected friends" in a secret deal with the gun lobby over the police officers and families he promised to protect.

"Ten years ago today, with the leadership of police officers all over the country, we passed a tough crime bill to protect America," the Massachusetts senator told supporters.

"We made sure, in a tough fight, that criminals couldn't get their hands on military assault weapons, and we put 100,000 cops into our nation's communities where they could make an impact and stop crimes," he said.

Under a 10-year prohibition enacted in 1994 which expired on Monday, certain powerful military-style assault weapons were outlawed, as were high-capactiy ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds.

Kerry, who said he was a lifelong hunter and has portrayed himself as an avid outdoorsman to appeal to more conservative voters, pledged to uphold the Constitution's Second Amendment allowing Americans to bear arms.

But he criticised Bush for proposing cuts to the Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, programme that Kerry helped pass 10 years ago. It provides grants to state and local agencies to hire police officers. Bush proposed cutting it from US$482 million to US$97 million next year.

"When his powerful and well-connected friends asked for a massive tax cut, he said 'sure' and he's paid for it by gutting the COPS programme, slashing gang prevention and cutting enforcement programmes that keep drugs like meth off the streets," Kerry said.

"So, tomorrow for the first time in 10 years when a killer walks into a gun shop, when a terrorist goes to a gun show somewhere in America, when they want to purchase an AK-47 or some other military assault weapon, they're going to hear one word: 'sure'."

White House spokesman Scott McClellan called the charge "another false attack from Senator Kerry."

"The best way to deter violence committed with guns is to vigorously prosecute crimes that are committed with guns," McClellan said, adding that Bush had wanted to see the safeguard remain in place but the US Congress wouldn't take it up. Bush did not, however, press for its renewal.

Supporters of the ban in Congress, who included most Democrats and some moderate Republicans, vowed to fight to restore the ban. But that is doubtful unless there are major changes this election since they cannot get a floor vote on the issue this year.

Kerry unveiled his own US$5 billion, 10-year plan to fight crime, appearing with gun control activist Sarah Brady, whose husband, Jim Brady, was shot in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Kerry said he would restore the assault weapons ban, fully fund COPS, increase scrutiny of purchases at gun shows and hire 5000 new prosecutors.

The ban's expiration was a victory for the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby, which had made it a top priority. Some lawmakers were afraid to cross the NRA weeks before congressional elections.

Many political analysts believe the gun control issue contributed to the defeat of Democrat Al Gore in 2000, especially his losses in closely fought states in the Midwest and South. But opinion polls show a majority of Americans favour renewing the ban on assault weapons.

- REUTERS