Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408160110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The citizens fired the heaviest emotional artillery so far in the war Clinton is waging to force the House to reverse its Thursday vote to shelve his anti-crime bill, which lost on a procedural motion, 225-210.
One victim's husband, Steve Sposato, told how his wife, Jody, was killed in 1993 when a gunman shot up a San Francisco law office with two assault-style weapons like the ones Clinton wants to ban.
Sposato blamed Republicans and the National Rifle Association for blocking the crime bill. He urged the public to demand its passage.
``I've been a Republican for 19 years, and frankly I am totally disappointed in my party, especially the leadership of my party,'' Sposato said. ``With three-fourths of the entire country in support of the assault-weapons ban, how can this type of legislation be blocked? ...
``The fact is the NRA doesn't give a damn that my wife, Jody, is dead,'' Sposato said. ``The fact is the NRA doesn't give a damn that my daughter, Meghan, will grow up never knowing her mother. ... It is not the crime bill that is being held hostage; it's the American people. I urge you to call your congressman and express your outrage.''
George Walker, a spokesman for the NRA, took issue with Sposato's remarks. ``We certainly care about anyone that's a victim of violent crime, and we want to see violent crime reduced. However, we believe that only through meaningful criminal law reforms can we do so. ... Gun bans don't work,'' Walker said.
Republican lawmakers say they oppose the bill not only because of its ban on assault weapons, but also because the measure includes $7 billion for crime-prevention social programs that they call wasteful.
House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., said Democrats are willing to cut spending on some crime-prevention programs from the bill.
by CNB