Legislators urge ban on assault weapons

CINCINNATI (AP) -- City and state legislators and a gun-control advocate said Friday that Ohio needs to enact a ban on military-style assault weapons in case Congress and President Bush fail to extend a ban that expires in September.
State Rep. Tyrone Yates, D-Cincinnati, introduced his proposal Wednesday in Columbus. State Sen. Eric Fingerhut, D-Cleveland, introduced a similar proposal in December pending in the Senate, said Toby Hoover, executive director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, who attended a news conference Friday with Yates.
The National Rifle Association has fought efforts to extend the federal ban. The NRA contends that having semiautomatic weapons and other firearms would allow Americans to better defend themselves against criminals. The NRA also says that semiautomatics are not disproportionately used to commit violent crimes.