Assault Weapons

A three-month government review of imported assault weapons has concluded that some of them are not legitimate sporting weapons. The likely consequence is that further importation of such weapons will be permanently banned. Dot Koester, a spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said some of the 49 types of semiautomatic rifles reviewed by the bureau failed the "sporting test. " She would not say how many. She said the agency's report was on the desk of bureau director Stephen E. Higgins and within weeks would be forwarded to the White House.

AS I MOURNED during the funeral for Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, I was struck by the youth of the officers in attendance. Most were no older than my own children. Sgt. Liczbinski was only 39. As I thought about the circumstances that claimed the life of another Philadelphia cop, my sadness turned to anger - and that anger is now directed at legislators in Harrisburg who refuse to stand up to the NRA and pass tough gun-control laws. Sgt. Liczbinski was murdered by a career criminal with an SKS assault rifle, a military killing machine that has no place on our streets or anywhere else in a civilized society.

Thanks are due to the U.S. Supreme Court, which this week smartly let stand New Jersey's toughest-in-the-nation ban on assault weapons. The 1990 law bans 37 models of semiautomatic firearms and other weapons that are "substantially identical. " Some gun shop owners complained the law was too vague. But it's specific where it should be - in defining assault weapons by capability - without falling into the trap of banning only specific models. That would have created a loophole that look-alike brands could exploit.

Acting Gov. Mark S. Singel, breaking with conventional political wisdom, yesterday called for a statewide ban on assault weapons, and said he'll veto legislation aimed at overturning Philadelphia's ban. He might get the chance. The state House next week is expected to take up a bill passed by the Senate in June that overturns a City Council-passed ban on assault weapons. For Democrat Singel, the issue is packed with politics. The lieutenant governor wants to seek the governorship next year.

EVEN AS TWO MEN were being tried in a Philadelphia courtroom in the 2008 murder of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbin-ski with an SKS assault weapon, Officer Kevin Livewell and his partner escaped death last week from assault-weapons fire on a Kensington street. The two cops stopped a van Thursday night - and three men came out, guns blazing. Livewell was shot in the leg and will recover; no body armor could have protected him if a bullet had hit a vital organ. After the shooting, police found an arsenal of eight assault weapons - among them an SKS, every one of them legal to be purchased and owned by anyone without a criminal record.

THE DUMBEST argument for not banning assault weapons is "Guns don't kill people, people kill people. " Not true. The bullet tearing through the body, ripping apart vital organs is what kills. The assault weapon that lets off 50 bullets in five seconds and only needs to be pointed in the general direction of the target is a lot more deadly than the handgun that needs to be aimed by someone being fired back at and is a lot less likely to hit its target. Keith Callan, Philadelphia Eloquent commish Watching TV the other day, I saw a black man speaking from a church pulpit.

The only people using assault weapons are drug dealers, gang members and violent criminals, said Acting Gov. Mark S. Singel. And, he said, it's time to stop them. Singel wants a statewide sales ban on assault weapons and says he'd veto any attempt by the legislature to prohibit local governments from banning assault weapons. A bill in the state House to overturn Philadelphia's ban on assault weapons is expected to be voted on next week. Yesterday, he picked up the support of Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Neal, who joined him at a news conference.

It will be 10 years in November. Ten years since a man walked into Washington Metropolitan Police Headquarters, climbed the stairs to the second floor, opened the door to the Cold Case Homicide Squad, pulled a Mac-10 assault pistol out from under his jacket, opened fire, and killed two FBI agents and a Washington police sergeant and grievously wounded a third FBI agent. Ten years since one man was able to acquire, conceal and wield sufficient firepower to overwhelm a room full of trained and armed peace officers.

Ignoring one police official's plea that "this law will only affect the law-abiding citizens" and heeding another's warning that cities are "becoming militarized zones," a Senate panel yesterday approved the nation's strictest statewide ban on assault weapons. The measure, strongly backed by Gov. Florio, was approved 6-5 by the Judiciary Committee and will be considered Thursday by the full Senate. The proposal is moving swiftly despite determined opposition by the National Rifle Association and other gun enthusiasts.

Houston schools record far fewer assault and weapon cases than Philadelphia, but they arrest and issue citations to students more often, district statistics show. Houston police recorded 3,816 arrests and citations last school year, or 188 for every 10,000 students. Serious offenses such as aggravated assault always result in arrests. Citations are issued for lower-level offenses such as disorderly conduct or disruption of school. The citation numbers also include written warnings, said Jimmy Dotson, chief of Houston school police.

Back in February 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder outlined the new administration's intent on an assault-weapons ban: "As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons. " Not only would it be good for the United States, Holder pointed out, but it also would "have a positive impact" on Mexico, which was plagued - then and now - by drug-related gun violence.

Chester City will hold a gun exchange on Saturday, the Mayor's Office announced. In exchange for weapons during the "Goods for Guns" program, participants will receive $100 ShopRite supermarket gift cards that can be used at the Eddystone store. Those who turn over assault weapons will receive additional credit. There is a two-gun limit for the gift cards. Weapons will be collected between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at either of Chester's firehouses: at 320 E. 14th St. and 1501 W. Third St. Last year, nearly 300 guns were exchanged in a similar program, the Mayor's Office said.

In the Senate race, we endorse Joe Sestak for his support of key issues like: Sestak's military background adds strength to his arguments, made during Friday's debate, for banning assault weapons; Toomey's self-described (and contempible) view of gun contro l is "a steady aim. " Sestak believes the stimulus bil l should have been bigger; Toomey believes the free market would have corrected the economic meltdown. Sestak supports tax cuts for the middle class; Toomey supports making high income-tax cuts permanent.

EVEN AS TWO MEN were being tried in a Philadelphia courtroom in the 2008 murder of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbin-ski with an SKS assault weapon, Officer Kevin Livewell and his partner escaped death last week from assault-weapons fire on a Kensington street. The two cops stopped a van Thursday night - and three men came out, guns blazing. Livewell was shot in the leg and will recover; no body armor could have protected him if a bullet had hit a vital organ. After the shooting, police found an arsenal of eight assault weapons - among them an SKS, every one of them legal to be purchased and owned by anyone without a criminal record.

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of a man believed to be involved in the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer last week in Kensington. Anel Cuenas, 27, is wanted in the shooting of Officer Kevin Livewell in a gun battle on North Water Street on Thursday. Men armed with assault weapons began shooting at Livewell and his partner, Officer Brian Issel, when the two approached a van that matched the description of one involved in an earlier shooting.

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of a man involved in the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer last week in Kensington. Anel Cuenas, 27, is wanted in connection with the shooting of Officer Kevin Livewell in a gun battle on North Water Street Thursday. Men armed with assault weapons began shooting at Livewell and his partner, Officer Brian Issel, when the two approached a van that matched the description of one involved in an earlier shooting.

A 24th District police officer was shot in an exchange of gunfire after he and his partner stopped a van in the 3000 block of North Water Street in Kensington around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. Two Philadelphia officers pulled over a van that fit the description of a vehicle involved in a shooting earlier in the day, Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross said. Men wielding assault weapons immediately fired on them, Ross said. The police returned fire, and Officer Kevin Livewell was shot just below his right knee, Ross said.

WASHINGTON - Mexican President Felipe Calderon's appearance Thursday before a joint session of Congress dramatically illustrated - and possibly reinforced - the partisan divide that has stymied progress on immigration law. Calderon sharply criticized Arizona's tough new immigration law and the United States' refusal to ban assault weapons, which are being used in the violent drug-gang shootouts in Mexico. Afterward, Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) said Calderon "crossed a line" by urging changes in gun policy, and Sen. John McCain, (R., Ariz.