[NYTr] US Cops Fight Fire with Fire(arms)

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

      US Police Fight Fire with Fire(arms)

      Washington, Oct 8 (Prensa Latina) The increase of firearms on the
streets of the United States has put so much pressure on Miami security
forces that they have been ordered to equip themselves "with as many
automatic weapons as they can," Miami Police Chief John Timoney said
Monday.

         Chief Timoney said his department should start an arms race
that allows it to be on an equal footing with criminals, if it wants to
stop murders, El Nuevo Herald daily reported.

         It is Congress' fault, said the police chief, who recalled
with pleasure a law passed by ex President Bill Clinton, prohibiting
large and small-bore weapons imports, and regulating gun sales to the
civilian population.

         After Clinton signed that regulation in 1994, the number of
incidents with automatic weapons decreased by over 75 percent,
according to the Department of Justice statistics

         However Congress refused to prolong the measure in 2004 and,
as it legalized import of automatic weapons, it caused a new increase
of crimes on US streets, Timoney told El Nuevo Herald.

         He also complained of the legislation that hinders the
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fire Arms Agency from sharing information with
police departments about movement and criminal use of weapons.

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