For Release: Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Minnesota Gunmaker Offers Widest Range of “Copycat” Assault Weapons including AK-47s, AR-15s, MAC-10s, Galils, and MP5s of any Manufacturer in America, Illustrates Need to Strengthen Federal Assault Weapons Ban
Washington, DC – A Minnesota gunmaker, Vulcan Armament, Inc. of Inver Grove Heights (www.vulcanarmament.com), offers the widest range of new “copycat” assault weapon models of any firearms manufacturer in America, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) reported today.
The company’s 2004 catalog promises civilian buyers “the world’s finest battle rifles” and states that “from Panama to Afghanistan to Iraq, the guns of the special forces are now on sale in America!” Labeling its product line the “arsenal of freedom,” its catalog boasts “the world’s finest battle rifles now available in civilian legal semi auto!” Assault weapons featured in the catalog include semiautomatic AK-47s, AR-15s, MAC-10s, Galils, and MP5s.
Virtually all of the weapons are banned by name in the 1994 federal assault weapons ban. The law is scheduled to expire on September 13, 2004. Gunmakers have easily evaded the law by making slight, cosmetic changes to banned guns and continued their sale unimpeded. These “copycat” guns which are virtually indistinguishable from their banned counterparts and possess the same firepower will be unaffected if the assault weapons ban is merely renewed.
Kristen Rand, VPC legislative director states, “Americans mistakenly believe that assault weapons are banned. They aren’t. To actually ban assault weapons, the 1994 law must be significantly strengthened, not just renewed. Vulcan Armament’s extensive line of `special forces’ weapons is just the latest proof.”
The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
