By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – St. Louis mayor Francis Slay says he's worried that the federal ban on assault weapons set to expire today (Monday) will mean more violence on city streets.
The 1994 ban which restricts the manufacture and import of certain types of military-style weapons is set to expire Monday.
Slay says Congress' failure to renew the ban could put more guns back in the hands of criminals. "Our streets could again be flooded with Uzi's and AK-47's," says Slay.
"And it's a real concern of me as the mayor of the city of St. Louis - I feel it's part of my job that we have the safest environment - not just for our people, obviously - but also for the police officers who are protecting them."
Slay blames Congressional Republicans for failing to bring the measure to a vote. "It is unconscionable that the elected leaders of this country are not taking this very serious issue seriously. I want to know as a mayor of a big city, I want to know as a citizen of this country where our elected officials stand on this issue."
But those who are glad to see the ban go say the law didn't work because it left out many semi-automatic weapons; and criminals never obeyed the ban anyway.