Washington, DC -- The University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey, released this past Friday, shows that an overwhelming majority of the American people -- gun owners and non-gun owners alike -- support the reauthorization of the federal assault weapons ban.

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Warner (R-VA), and Charles Schumer (D-NY) have introduced a 10-year extension of the federal assault weapons ban, which will expire on September 13, 2004, unless Congress and the President act.

Separately, mayors and police chiefs in Miami, Seattle, Baltimore, Portland, OR, Portland, ME, Santa Fe, Houston, Columbus and Detroit today rallied in support of extending the assault weapons ban.

The extension of the ban is supported by virtually every major national law enforcement organization, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, and the Major Cities Chiefs.

Following is Senator Feinstein's statement:

"The message is clear - the American people want the federal assault weapons ban extended.

According to the study, 71 percent of all households support extending the ban. Additionally, 64 percent of households with a gun and 46 percent of NRA households support extending the assault weapons ban.  This is contrary to the claims of NRA leadership, who say that the assault weapons ban is universally reviled by gun owners.

It is crystal clear that the American people want this ban renewed.  Law enforcement supports extending the ban. And the Senate has gone on record in support of reauthorizing the ban.

But unless the bill is approved by Congress and signed into law by the President, this important law will expire on September 13. This cannot be allowed to happen.

I urge all Americans who want the ban extended to work for passage the renewal of the assault weapons ban."

A copy of the Annenberg survey is located at: http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/naes/index.htm .

###