The term "assault rifle" conjures up images of large killing machines. But in America, you are more likely to be killed by a baseball bat, a knife, or even someone's bare hands, than the assault rifle now being targeted by lawmakers.
In the aftermath of the Newtown shooting are renewed calls to outlaw assault rifles, weapons like the AR-15 Adam Lanza used to kill 26 children and educators.
Sen. Charles Schumer, (D) New York:
"Assault weapons. These are weapons of war. They belong on our battlefield not on our streets."
The rhetoric from Washington implies the streets would be safe if assault rifles were banned. But what can be lost in such an emotional debate, are the facts.
Ed Norris, Former Maryland State Police Superintendent:
"You're not going to ban any one tool and gun and stop school shootings, malls shootings, any of this stuff."
The FBI releases annual crime statistics. Those stats show murders carried out with rifles are just a fraction of the killings in the United States.
In 2011, almost 13,000 people were murdered with a weapon.
1,700 people were killed with knives.
728 were killed by another's bare hands.
Hammers, bats and clubs killed almost 500 people.
And rifles? 323 people. Just 2.5% of all weapon-related murders involved an assault rifle.
For some people with law enforcement background, the facts prove the fight over assault weapons is not the answer.
Norris:
"Think about this, if some one is willing to murder innocent children at a school, are they going to worry about gun laws?"
But the push for stricter gun control is still expected to dominate the new congress in 2013.
Dan Bongino | Former Secret Service Agent:
"I think the argument has been hijacked for strict political gain by folks, who by the way, have zero experience in the security field."
The FBI statistics show that the murder rate has been steadily declining in almost all categories over the past five years.
In the aftermath of the Newtown shooting are renewed calls to outlaw assault rifles, weapons like the AR-15 Adam Lanza used to kill 26 children and educators.
Sen. Charles Schumer, (D) New York:
"Assault weapons. These are weapons of war. They belong on our battlefield not on our streets."
The rhetoric from Washington implies the streets would be safe if assault rifles were banned. But what can be lost in such an emotional debate, are the facts.
Ed Norris, Former Maryland State Police Superintendent:
"You're not going to ban any one tool and gun and stop school shootings, malls shootings, any of this stuff."
The FBI releases annual crime statistics. Those stats show murders carried out with rifles are just a fraction of the killings in the United States.
In 2011, almost 13,000 people were murdered with a weapon.
1,700 people were killed with knives.
728 were killed by another's bare hands.
Hammers, bats and clubs killed almost 500 people.
And rifles? 323 people. Just 2.5% of all weapon-related murders involved an assault rifle.
For some people with law enforcement background, the facts prove the fight over assault weapons is not the answer.
Norris:
"Think about this, if some one is willing to murder innocent children at a school, are they going to worry about gun laws?"
But the push for stricter gun control is still expected to dominate the new congress in 2013.
Dan Bongino | Former Secret Service Agent:
"I think the argument has been hijacked for strict political gain by folks, who by the way, have zero experience in the security field."
The FBI statistics show that the murder rate has been steadily declining in almost all categories over the past five years.