Twenty-seven gun violence prevention organizations called on President Obama to ban the import of the FN Herstal Five-seveN armor-piercing semiautomatic pistol that was used in the Fort Hood attack this month that left 13 dead and 34 wounded. The Belgian-made weapon is a favorite of Mexican drug trafficking organizations, call it the “mata policia,” or “cop killer.”
The groups said preventing the importation of Five-seveN handguns can be accomplished through administrative action by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) without the need for congressional action. ATF has used its authority to exclude from import many non-sporting firearms, including 'Saturday Night Special' handguns, 'Street Sweeper' shotguns, and many foreign-made assault weapons, the groups said. National groups signing the letter are the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Violence Policy Center, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Freedom States Alliance, Legal Community Against Violence, and States United to Prevent Gun Violence.