Many Democrats are upset that the so-called assault weapons ban was not extended. They say crime will soar because these guns will be back on the street. These guns were never off the street.

During the 10-year life of the ban, every one of the millions of assault weapons made prior to 1994 were still 100 percent legal to buy, sell and own.

The obvious question is, if millions of assault weapons were still available, how did this so-call ban reduce assault weapon crime?

Newly manufactured civilian assault weapons faced some cosmetic bans. For example, no more bayonet lugs on new civilian guns. The same guns continued to be made without the bayonet lugs.

Pistol grip stocks were banned on some new firearms. The same guns were then made with a different stock.

Portland Police Chief Mike Chitwood held up an AK-47 with a large capacity magazine as he explained how dangerous such guns are. The very same firearm has been 100 percent legal to buy, sell, and own during the 10-year history of the gun ban.

Because these guns have been available all during the 10-year ban, how can the anti-gun folks argue it has reduced crime?

Anti-gun Democrats suckered millions of folks into thinking the ban accomplished something that it did not.

Jerry Robichaud

Newport