You're obviously not up to date on your ghetto crime stats.
The assault rifle has become the weapon of choice in drive-by shootings, and police often complain that they are often outgunned by the bad guys, and they have been forced to carry their own fully automatic weapons.
And explain to me very carefully, because I'm kind of slow, how banning assault weapons, or any weapon, for that matter, could possibly give anyone more or less political power. Are you still expecting those blue helmets and black helicopters?