Last Sunday, one day before Congress and President Bush failed to renew the federal assault weapons ban, law enforcement officers in Miami saw a glimpse of what may come.

Officer Keenya Hubert answered a call to investigate shots fired and was confronted by a gunman wielding an AK-47 assault rifle.

What followed was a shower of two dozen bullets. Hubert was struck twice, her police car left in flames. The incident underlines the threat our elected officials have placed on those who protect us. More than ever, we need to strengthen and renew the ban on military-style semiautomatic assault weapons.

Widespread availability of these weapons puts all Americans in danger, but the threat is greatest to our nation’s law enforcement. Although assault weapons represent only 1 to 2 percent of all guns, they are used in the slaying of 1 in 5 police officers killed on duty.

Critics of the 1994 legislation cite the gun industry’s ability to evade the ban as reason for letting it expire. Gun makers worked tirelessly to exploit every loophole in the 1994 ban. This allowed them to continue producing assault weapons by cosmetically changing the banned weapons, renaming them, and then marketing functionally identical assault weapons not covered by the law.

Our solution to these loopholes is not just to give up as would the opponents of the ban. When a law has not worked as intended, it should be strengthened and fixed, not thrown away.

Numerous polls have shown that about 70 percent of Americans support a ban on assault weapons.

Congress and Bush need to demonstrate their willingness to stand up for the American public over the commanding influence of the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby.

If continued injuries or killings of police officers will not motivate them to take action, what will?

Leah Woodward

Communications Director

Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence