HASTERT MISLEADS NATION ON ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

Speaker's comments on NPR suggest ban failed in Senate

- Senate passed renewed assault weapons ban March 2 on bipartisan 52-47 vote

(Washington, DC) - In an interview this morning on National Public Radio,
U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert mislead the American public, stating that
the House would not vote on renewing the assault weapons ban because "the Senate defeated it already."

In reality, the Senate renewed the assault weapons ban on March 2 on a
bipartisan 52-47 vote.  It was passed as an amendment to an onerous bill
that would grant unprecedented legal immunity to the gun industry.  The
Senate voted down the entire package.

"Speaker Hastert's remarks are highly misleading and the media must call him
on them," said Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop
Gun Violence.  "The U.S. Senate voted to renew the assault weapons ban.
Pure and simple.

"President Bush has repeatedly stated his support for the assault weapons
ban and, according to a spokesman "waiting for the House to act" on the
measure.

CSGV renewed its call for the President to lead the fight for the assault
weapons ban, which Americans and law enforcement officers overwhelmingly
support.