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http://www.centredaily.com/news/breaking_news/story/578325.html
Thursday, May. 08, 2008
Philly officials: Assault weapons ban must be reinstated
By KATHY MATHESON- Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA — City and state officials called Thursday for Congress to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, an impassioned plea delivered as the police department prepared to bury an officer killed in the line of duty by a high-powered rifle.
Mayor Michael Nutter said last weekend's "assassination" of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, who was shot at least five times by a Chinese SKS rifle while responding to a bank robbery, was "truly shocking."
"We all know that he did not stand a chance," said Nutter, speaking at a City Hall news conference.
The comments came about 12 hours after a third suspect, Eric Floyd, was captured in an abandoned rowhouse in southwest Philadelphia.
Floyd, 33, was caught following a five-day manhunt after police said an FBI agent received a tip on his location. Brought to police headquarters in Liczbinski's handcuffs, Floyd was charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy and related offenses.
Alleged cohort Levon Warner, 38, was arrested Sunday and faces the same charges. The third suspect, Howard Cain, 33, was shot to death by police on Saturday during a post-robbery chase.
At Thursday's news conference, Nutter and Gov. Ed Rendell released a copy of a letter they sent to members of the state's congressional delegation asking for the federal ban on assault weapons to be reinstated. A ban enacted in 1994 was not renewed after lapsing in 2004.
"Passing this legislation will go a long way to protecting those who put their lives on the line every day for us," Rendell and Nutter wrote. "There is no excuse to do otherwise."
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who also attended the news conference, bristled when told that some gun-rights organizations dispute whether the SKS rifle qualifies as an assault weapon.
The gun inflicts wounds so devastating that it should be considered one, Ramsey said angrily.
"Then add it to the frickin' list!" he said to sustained applause from officials and other police officers.
The viewing for Liczbinski, 39, was to begin Thursday evening, followed by a funeral at the city's main cathedral on Friday.
Liczbinski was the third city officer slain on duty in two years. He left a wife and three children.
http://www.centredaily.com/news/breaking_news/story/578325.html
Thursday, May. 08, 2008
Philly officials: Assault weapons ban must be reinstated
By KATHY MATHESON- Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA — City and state officials called Thursday for Congress to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, an impassioned plea delivered as the police department prepared to bury an officer killed in the line of duty by a high-powered rifle.
Mayor Michael Nutter said last weekend's "assassination" of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, who was shot at least five times by a Chinese SKS rifle while responding to a bank robbery, was "truly shocking."
"We all know that he did not stand a chance," said Nutter, speaking at a City Hall news conference.
The comments came about 12 hours after a third suspect, Eric Floyd, was captured in an abandoned rowhouse in southwest Philadelphia.
Floyd, 33, was caught following a five-day manhunt after police said an FBI agent received a tip on his location. Brought to police headquarters in Liczbinski's handcuffs, Floyd was charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy and related offenses.
Alleged cohort Levon Warner, 38, was arrested Sunday and faces the same charges. The third suspect, Howard Cain, 33, was shot to death by police on Saturday during a post-robbery chase.
At Thursday's news conference, Nutter and Gov. Ed Rendell released a copy of a letter they sent to members of the state's congressional delegation asking for the federal ban on assault weapons to be reinstated. A ban enacted in 1994 was not renewed after lapsing in 2004.
"Passing this legislation will go a long way to protecting those who put their lives on the line every day for us," Rendell and Nutter wrote. "There is no excuse to do otherwise."
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who also attended the news conference, bristled when told that some gun-rights organizations dispute whether the SKS rifle qualifies as an assault weapon.
The gun inflicts wounds so devastating that it should be considered one, Ramsey said angrily.
"Then add it to the frickin' list!" he said to sustained applause from officials and other police officers.
The viewing for Liczbinski, 39, was to begin Thursday evening, followed by a funeral at the city's main cathedral on Friday.
Liczbinski was the third city officer slain on duty in two years. He left a wife and three children.