This Week's Gun Myth

Myth: Assault weapons are a serious problem in the U.S.

Fact: In 1994, before the Federal "assault weapons ban", you were eleven (11) times more
likely to be beaten to death than to be killed by an “assault weapon”. In the first year since the
ban was lifted, murders declined 3.6%, and violent crime 1.7%.

Fact: Nationally, “assault weapons” were used in 1.4% of crimes involving firearms and 0.25%
of all violent crime before the enactment of any national or state “assault weapons” ban. In
many major urban areas (San Antonio, Mobile, Nashville, etc.) and some entire states (Maryland,
New Jersey, etc.) the rate is less than 0.1%

Fact: Even weapons misclassified as “assault weapons” (common in the former Federal and
California "assault weapons" confiscations) are used in less than 1% of all homicides.

Fact: Police reports show that “assault weapons” are a non-problem:

For California:
• Los Angeles: In 1998, of 538 documented gun incidents, only one (0.2%) involved
an "assault weapon".
• San Francisco: In 1998, only 2.2% of confiscated weapons were "assault weapons".
• San Diego: Between 1988 and 1990, only 0.3% of confiscated weapons were "assault
weapons".
• “I surveyed the firearms used in violent crimes...assault-type firearms were the least
of our worries.”

For the rest of the nation:
• Between 1980 and 1994, only 2% of confiscated guns were "assault weapons".
• Just under 2% of criminals that commit violent crimes used “assault weapons”.