Kerry Hits Bush on Lapse of Weapons Ban
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By MARY DALRYMPLE, Associated Press Writer
ST. LOUIS - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) said Friday that President Bush (news - web sites) failed to protect Americans from criminals and terrorists by letting a ban on assault weapons expire next week.
"In the al-Qaida manual on terror, they were telling people to go out and buy assault weapons, to come to America and buy assault weapons," Kerry said. "Every law enforcement officer in America doesn't want us selling assault weapons in the streets of America, but George Bush (news - web sites), he says, 'Well, I'm for that.'"
As he frequently tells voters on the campaign trail, Kerry said he's a hunter and fisherman who respects the right of Americans to own guns. He has pledged to protect Second Amendment rights and said the ban can be reinstated without trampling those rights.
"I mean, heavens to Betsy, folks, we've had that law on the books for the last 10 years, and there's not a gun owner in America who can stand up and say, 'They tried to take my guns away,'" Kerry said.
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