SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL AND STATE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND REGULATION OF AMMUNITION

WHEREAS, gun violence has been escalating for many years, with devastating mass shootings occurring throughout the nation, reaching notoriety at Columbine High School (Colorado) and Virginia Tech and, more recently, seeming commonplace with occurrences in Aurora, Colo. and Newtown, Conn.; and

WHEREAS, there is a proliferation of and easy access to assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines at gun shows and shops; and

WHEREAS, assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines are often procured without any of the appropriate background checks; and

WHEREAS, a number of these mass shootings have occurred at schools and colleges; and

WHEREAS, school and college administrators and safety personnel are responsible for providing a safe and suitable environment for students and employees; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines would increase the probability that mass shootings, should they occur, result in far fewer deaths and far less bodily harm; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers and its locals stand with the living victims and with the families who have lost loved ones to gun violence:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers strongly support federal legislation which would place a ban on both assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazine weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT strongly support legislation which would require a permit for the purchase, acquisition or possession of ammunition and place certain prohibitions on the sale of ammunition, and would place a ban on both assault ammunition and high-capacity magazines.