“Once again, we’ve seen the tragic consequence of the ready availability of assault weapons throughout our society. A Los Angeles city worker, reportedly upset that he had been reprimanded, allegedly shot and killed his supervisor and another worker Thursday evening with an AK-47 assault rifle.

This latest shooting comes only days before the one-year anniversary of a Senate vote in favor of extending the assault weapons ban for 10 years. Sadly, shortly after that vote on March 2, 2004, we saw the ideological and extreme view of the National Rifle Association, when they sacrificed their most wanted legislative priority – gun immunity legislation – because the Senate had approved the assault weapons ban and two other amendments that would save people's lives: closing the gun show loophole, and requiring trigger locks.

Although President Bush had said he supported the assault weapons ban, he refused to personally urge either Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist or House Speaker Dennis Hastert to move the legislation and the ban expired on September 13, 2004. As a result, these weapons are now proliferating once again throughout the United States.

Next week, when the Senate returns from recess, I intend to reintroduce the Assault Weapons Ban. And this time, I hope for the safety of all Americans, President Bush, Majority Leader Frist and Speaker Hastert will help re-enact this important legislation.”