Are assault weapons bans effective?

Are assault weapons bans effective?

Larry Pratt (Executive Director, Gun Owners of America) gives expert video advice on: What is an 'assault weapon'?; What is the difference between a handgun and an 'assault weapon'?; What is an assault rifle? and more...

The assault weapons ban had no effect on crime whatsoever and it was likely that, that would be the case because they had no effect on crime before the ban and they've had no effect on crime following the removal of the ban. There's just been no use of these guns in crimes that's significant at all. The New York State Police found that when they were studying this prior to the ban going into effect nationally in 1994 that you are some five times more likely to be killed by somebody using hands and feet than by somebody having one of these firearms called an assault weapon.