Dade cops seeing more assault rifles

[Nole795]

Dade cops seeing more assault rifles

More homicides in Miami-Dade have been committed this year using assault-style rifles, but whether that means more of the weapons are on the streets is unclear.
BY DAVID OVALLE
dovalle@MiamiHerald.com


When masked gunmen in June unleashed a hail of bullets on a van, it underscored a troubling fact: Assault-style rifles have caused significant carnage this year in Miami-Dade County.

Three men died that day.

A police spokesman described the van as ``shot to pieces.''

Although most killers still use handguns, police report the use of assault-style rifles -- the AK-47 and its cheaper cousin, the SKS -- is on the rise.

Consider:

• During the first six months of the year, at least nine homicides handled by Miami-Dade detectives were believed to have been committed with assault-style rifles. That's up from only one last year during the same time period, the department said.

• This year, the Miami Police Department's homicide unit has handled 10 deaths attributed to assault-style rifles -- including the June triple murder. That's up from six during the same time period last year.

The Broward Sheriff's Office hasn't detected a sharp increase, but it has noticed a ''bit of an upswing'' in crimes involving shotguns and long guns over the past few months, according to BSO spokesman Elliot Cohen. He said it's too early to draw any conclusions.

''The last couple months there has been a higher than normal level of incidence with shotguns and long guns,'' Cohen said. ``Anecdotally, it's something our detectives have noticed.''

The spate of murders comes nearly two years after legislators allowed a federal ban on certain assault-style weapons to expire -- but whether that means more are on the streets is difficult to gauge, law enforcement officials say.

''It's hard to quantify because no one is keeping statistics on what weapons are used in what types of crimes,'' said Miami Detective Delrish Moss, a police spokesman. ``But the fact that it is easier to obtain them legally is a problem because they end up in the hands of criminals.''

Although the availability of the rifles has likely not increased, the number of shootings involving such guns may mean they've become the weapon of choice, said semi-retired Miami-Dade Sgt. Bob Hoelscher, a firearms expert.

It may also signify a renewal of bold ``spray-and-pray''-style ambushes similar to violence spawned by the John Does drug gang in the 1990s, he said.

''In the street vernacular, it's bad,'' he said of the rifles. `It's the appearence and the reputation that has made it the hot ticket.''

Said Miami homicide Lt. John Buhrmaster: ``Inflicting fear with power. That's a big factor why those assault rifles are being used.''

Indeed, semiautomatic assault weapons, say authorities, are designed for rapid-fire, close-quarter shooting. Users can fire one round and instantly load the next round with each pull of the trigger.

Gun-control advocates blame Congress for failing to enact tougher laws to keep such high-powered guns off the streets.

A study done by the Violence Policy Center, which supports stricter gun control laws, estimates that more than one million assault weapons were manufactured in the decade after Congress put into effect the federal ban on assault weapons.

When enacted in 1994, the ban did not apply to millions of semi-automatic assault-style weapons already in circulation. And gun manufacturers could legally produce similar weapons by tweaking a rifle's configuration, such as removing a bayonet lug. The ban ended in 2004.

Add the unabated flow of cheap assault-style rifles like the SKS imported from countries such as Yugoslavia, and firepower was always available, Rand said.

Other studies show the federal ban had mixed results.

A spokesman for Miami's division of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says agents have not noticed a tangible increase in the amount of assault-style rifles seized.

''It's always been a popular firearm on the streets,'' said special agent Carlos Baixauli, an ATF spokesman.

Jim Pasco, national executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, said none of the union's police agencies has reported a significant increase in gun crime associated with assault rifles.

''We have not had any outcry from any segment of the country of a specific department asking for us to take any actions toward implementing a new ban or new regulations,'' said Pasco, who as a member of ATF in the 1990s was one of the ban's chief architects.

Nevertheless, police officials worry that more legally bought firearms will eventually be stolen or trickle down to criminals.

The expiration of the ban was troublesome enough that Miami-Dade Police Director Robert Parker cited it during a recent round of media interviews about this year's homicide increase.

He could not definitely link the expiration of the ban to an increase in violence, but he did say: ``There was nothing positively gained by the lifting of the ban on assault weapons by the government.''

Meanwhile, such weapons are emerging routinely in criminal investigations.

On a recent balmy evening last month, a shot went off accidentally inside an Upper Eastside motel, tearing through three rooms. No one was hurt.

Inside, Miami police officers discovered stolen credit cards, ski caps with eye holes freshly cut out to make masks and two recently bought rifles with receipts.

Most unsettling: One weapon was an AK-47, purchased for $563 at a Hialeah gun shop.

Two men were linked and later charged with two armed robberies believed committed with a handgun.

The rifleswere brand new.

''You have to believe they were for something far more sinister down the road,'' said Miami Cmdr. David Magnusson.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...l/15203698.htm

[Norm357]

What a bunch of anti gun BS.

[bhanson]

What a bunch of anti gun BS.

But Norm, you know all criminals use machine guns. The problem I have is an SKS doesn't have either a detachable magazine or pistol grip so it can't even be an "Assault Weapon" let alone an Assault Rifle!!

:rolleyes:

[pmfc]

Another long-winded anti-gun article :mad:

When are people going to wake up and stop blaming inanimate objects (guns, knives, etc) for crime?

My truck can kill someone too if it's driven irresponsibly. Should I have it confiscated? :rolleyes:

[chewy]

Most unsettling: One weapon was an AK-47, purchased for $563 at a Hialeah gun shop.

MAN!! I wish they would have called me, I could have gotten them an AK much cheaper that this! :D

[ObMax1212]

The best defense anyone fearful of a gang member with an "assault rifle" can have is to buy one for themselves. If the scumbags new everyone was packing they might think twice about starting trouble. It is interesting that the states with the most gun control have the most crime.

[mxwelch]

The best defense anyone fearful of a gang member with an "assault rifle" can have is to buy one for themselves. If the scumbags new everyone was packing they might think twice about starting trouble. It is interesting that the states with the most gun control have the most crime.

Bingo. Most criminals are cowards, that's why the rob people with no limbs etc...
They'll think twice if THEY have to face the instrument that "causes terror.":rolleyes:

I love how groups like VPC, blah, blah, blah, never compile stats on LEGAL uses of guns AGAINST crime.

[So Fla Cop]

My truck can kill someone too if it's driven irresponsibly. Should I have it confiscated? :rolleyes:

What year is it and is it paid for? :D

[pmfc]

What year is it and is it paid for? :D

LOL! 2003. Nope, not paid for yet :D