By Heather Hollingsworth, The Associated Press
Gun shop owners don’t expect much to change now that a 10-year federal ban on assault weapons has expired.
For one thing, they say, manufacturers were able to keep many weapons on the market simply by changing the guns’ names or altering some features.
“The idea that this is opening up the floodgate to a wave of violence is stupid,” said Jeff Neumann, manager of The Bullet Hole in Overland Park, Kan.
But not everyone is so sure. National police organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and the Fraternal Order of Police supported renewing the ban, which expired Monday.
“We have some concerns, and we share them with many law enforcement agencies across the nation,” said Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. John Eichkorn. “Truly, what can be gained by having those weapons on our nation’s streets? The safety and security of Kansas is our priority, and taking away the ban concerns the patrol.”
The measure, signed by President Clinton, had outlawed 19 types of military-style assault weapons, banned certain features on firearms such as bayonet mounts, and limited ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
Some gun shop owners, such as John Daily, manager of The Bullet Stop in Wichita, anticipate at least some interest in new high-capacity magazines.
“There were some companies already advertising in anticipate of this law sunsetting,” Daily said. “I would think that they are ready to ship high capacity magazines.”
Still, Pat Livingston, owner of Pat’s Pawn and Gun in Ogden, doesn’t anticipate a rush for assault weapons similar to the one that occurred before the ban went into effect.
“Bill Clinton and (gun-control advocate) Sarah Brady were the best salespeople in the world,” he said. “They sold all them by doing that.”
In the end, Livingston said, the ban didn’t restrict much.
“Most people who know about guns and deal in guns know the assault weapons ban wasn’t nothing but taking off a few options on the gun,” Livingston said. “It didn’t solve any crime or do anything around here.”