PHILADELPHIA (Map, News) - City and state officials called Thursday for Congress to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, delivering an impassioned plea the day before police were to bury an officer killed on duty by a high-powered rifle.

Mayor Michael Nutter said last weekend's "assassination" of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, who was shot at least five times by a Chinese SKS rifle while responding to a bank robbery, was "truly shocking."

"We all know that he did not stand a chance," said Nutter, speaking at a City Hall news conference. "It's a high-powered rifle that no one should have their hands on."

The comments came about 12 hours after a third suspect, Eric Floyd, was captured in an abandoned rowhouse in southwest Philadelphia. Floyd, 33, was caught following a five-day manhunt after police said an FBI agent received a tip.

Brought to police headquarters in Liczbinski's handcuffs, Floyd was charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy and related offenses. His girlfriend, Tonya Stephens, 37, was found with him and charged with obstructing justice, hindering apprehension and conspiracy.

Another bank robbery suspect, Levon Warner, 38, was arrested Sunday and charged with murder, robbery and conspiracy.

Suspect Howard Cain, 33, was shot to death by police on Saturday during a post-robbery chase. An area mosque has refused a request to hold funeral services for Cain, a Muslim, because of his criminal conduct.

On Thursday, Nutter and Gov. Ed Rendell released a copy of a letter they sent to members of the state's congressional delegation asking for the federal ban on assault weapons to be reinstated. A ban enacted in 1994 was not renewed after lapsing in 2004.

"Passing this legislation will go a long way to protecting those who put their lives on the line every day for us," Rendell and Nutter wrote. "There is no excuse to do otherwise."

Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., who is co-sponsoring legislation to reinstate the ban, said police officers should not face the same types of weapons that U.S. soldiers come up against in Iraq.

"I would like to see that we not only renew but strengthen the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004," Sestak said Thursday.

Rendell also criticized state lawmakers for refusing to pass what he called sensible gun-control measures. He mentioned attending a police memorial ceremony on Monday in Harrisburg, where he said legislators honored officers' service with resolutions even as they refuse to make them safer by passing a law requiring that lost and stolen guns be reported.

"The hypocrisy is rampant," Rendell said.

Officials acknowledged the federal assault weapons ban would not have included the gun that killed Liczbinski, as it came to the U.S. in 1992.

But Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey bristled when told that some gun-rights organizations dispute whether the SKS rifle qualifies as an assault weapon.

The gun inflicts wounds so devastating that it should be considered one, Ramsey said angrily.

"Then add it to the frickin' list!" he said to sustained applause from officials and other police officers at the news conference.

The advocacy group CeaseFirePA has sent letters to Pennsylvania gun dealers asking them to voluntarily refrain from selling the SKS.

Also, the city last month passed several local gun-control ordinances - including a ban on assault rifles - despite a Pennsylvania law giving the state sole power to enact firearms regulations. The National Rifle Association has sued, and the case will be in court next week.

NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said Thursday that the problem is lack of incarceration, not lack of legislation.

"The Philadelphia criminal justice system is a miserable failure and in complete shambles," LaPierre said. "We've got great laws on the books ... if only we would prosecute (criminals) and put them in jail and stop releasing them back to the streets."

The viewing for Liczbinski, 39, was to be held Thursday evening, followed by a funeral at the city's main cathedral on Friday.

Liczbinski was the third city officer slain on duty in two years. He left a wife and three children.

Comments from Examiner Readers

5:08 PM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008 re: "Philly officials: Assault weapons ban must be reinstated"

Examiner Reader said:
Disagree all you want but the truth is just too inconvenient for many to admit. Everyone fears young black males and rightfully so. The amount of crime, vicous violent crime, committed by black suspects is mind boggling. Prisons are full of black male criminals, yet the streets are still saturated with black criminals nationwide. After Katrina hit New Orleans, their violent crime rate went UP even though many left town. And, cities where many evacuees relocated like Houston, had a proportional increase in violent crime committed by those very same Katrina evacuees. I know that as a black person this is very embarrassing and it isn't my intent to do so. I am also not painting with a broad brush that "all" black people are criminals. But the truth (you know, those inconvenient, pesky facts that add up to a very obvious and embarrassing conclusion) is that nationwide blacks are inexplicably committing the vast majority of violent crimes. Blacks make up only 12% of the population!

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12:14 PM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008 re: "Suspect charged in Philly cop's slaying; 2nd suspect sought"

Examiner Reader said:
First and foremost...I honestly disagree with you. It isn't the black community. So blacks mess up, just as well as white people mess up. I myself am a african american young lady and im not out here clowin...but guess what my white neighbor is out here breaking in others houses and carrying on. I feel that this comment was very racist and disrespectful to the blacks. You don't know have of our stories so for you to just say that its the black community shows that you couldnt be anymore smarter than the next. So before you ever began to open your mouth to say some rude stuff like that...YOU need to check yourself... Just because your skin is lighter than mine makes you different? No. So why would you feel like that about us...how do you know why dont think something is wrong with you guys because of how light you are? PLEASE REMEMBER HOW WE USE TO BE TREATED...RACISM IS NOT OVER...ALTHOUGH I WISH IT WAS..ITS NOT..AND ITS UP TO US TO STOP IT...AND MAKING COMMENTS LIKE THAT WONT HELP..

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5:12 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Philadelphia police: Bank robbery suspect fatally shoots cop"

Racism Sucks said:
This did not happen in a black neighborhood. Port Richmond is white! Kensington which is across the street is totally mixed. I am not black but let me tell you it's the precious white boys in my neighborhood standing out selling drugs! Racism helps out no one. Yes the suspects were black. Fighting back? More gun shots? Maybe you should find a ghetto and live in it. Last thing we need is more guns. Guns do kill! Fill your heart with love. Love the family of the officer give to them! Filling up with hate will kill you!!

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1:37 PM MST on Sun., May. 4, 2008 re: "Suspect charged in Philly cop's slaying; 2nd suspect sought"

Examiner Reader said:
Yet another atrocity committed against a police officer. Our illustrious mayor is calling for another frigging GUN BAN instead of allowing the cops (state and federal in addition to local) to saturate black neighborhoods with a zero tolerance strategy. Spit on the sidewalk? Assume the position until you are proven to not have any weapons or warrants. Hanging outside a liquor store? Be prepared to show some ID. It will take hard, long and in-your-face attitudes from the cops to get these miscreants off the streets. Want to impact crime? Go after the criminals instead of demqanding another dopey gun ban which doesn't impact or impede these vermin anymore than current laws do. Also, allow law abiding people to obtain concealed carry permits so they can ably defend themselves against scumbags out looking for lives to ruin. The good people need tools to fight back and gun-blaming mayors only encourage the criminals to continue their deadly ways.

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6:56 AM MST on Sun., May. 4, 2008 re: "Police charge suspect in Philly officer's slaying"

Examiner Reader said:
Wheres the Cop Killers picture ?

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9:24 PM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008 re: "Philadelphia police: Bank robbery suspect fatally shoots cop"

Sad, Angry, and Shocked said:
Sgt. Steven Liczbinski, may you rest in peace. To the family I am truely sorry for your loss. I live in the neighborhood the robbery took place. I am deeply sadden that someone out there trying to good got killed today. I am angry that people just shoot at police. Everyone involved should have an expedited death penalty. May God be with you. Living in a crime and drug infested neighborhood I appericate our officers each and everyday, but when an officer gets killed, who can keep us safe? Is there any hope left for this city?

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11:06 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "Police: Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

Sunnie Murphy said:
Oh boy, you guys believe what the TV and papers are saying? Norm didn't do what these guys said he did. You don't have all of the right information. My husband along with all the guys from the Sons go there very Wednesday night. You have to believe that Norm was a smart, very experienced police office of 44 years and would NEVER draw on another cop. Even though he was tazed and NOT reach for a weopon. The nuckles were found BESIDE him, not on him. Please don't judge him by the TV and papers... There is more to this than the cops want us to know....

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4:10 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty Baltimore officer killed by police during bar fight"

1820 said:
One can't judge on how the uniformed officer went about doing his job. My heart goes out to the Stamp family and the Torres family.

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3:46 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

LR NYC said:
You're a veteran office, you know the rules. An officer in uniform has authority. first of all, Why would you carry an off duty gun when you know you're going to go out and drink. Second, if you are trying to restrain someone who has just been tasered. You see him reach for a gun, you have a wife and kid at home, all you have is a split second to decide. You hesitate and you are the one that is in the coffin while your wife cries with your hat and a folded american flag in her hands. I don't know about you, but I would have done the same thing. I feel for the victim's family, but he should have been more responsible.

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3:32 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty Baltimore officer killed by police during bar fight"

Examiner Reader007 said:
Sunnie is wrong. Citizen J is right. Let's move on, please.

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3:05 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty Baltimore officer killed by police during bar fight"

Citizen J said:
We all know that taking someones live is very difficult, however we must also realize that all the news conferences and reports have stated the same thing, AT A BAR DRINKING WITH A CONCEALED GUN, BRASS KNUCKLES ON HANDS,"ILLEGAL", I fell sorry for the officer and the family of the killed officer, However he put himself in a very bad situation. Reports say the he withdrew his weapons without identifying himself and pointed at officer, HE WOULD BE SHOT, OFFICER OR NOT, he would have done the same if a gun was pointed at him. It is an unfortunate event but it was justifiable, If a gun is drawn and aimed I will fire at you not doubt in my mind, OFFICERS are NOT trained to injured they are trained to STOP THE THREAT, WE ALL have families that we like to come home to, Torres decided to fire to see his family again, STAMP put himself in a horrible situation did not follow protocall and suffered the ULTIMATE price for it. I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME and so would every other officer. PRAYERS JM

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2:06 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

Citizen said:
How are offices trained to respond when a hand gun is drawn on them?... Let us not be hypocrites with this tragic event. On one side of the scale there was a person committing a violent crime with weapons and on the other side of the scale there is a uniformed officer who acted has he was trained. It seems to me most of the comments are posted by fellow officers, with that ask your selves very simply how would you react if a drunken person officer or not was refusing to cooperate, was wearing illegal weaponry and then drew a gun at you. This officer who acted within his duty has in my opinion committed no civil crime according to the article. Regardless of our civil laws a crime of ethics and moral has been committed by no fault of the dutiful officer, he will however undoubtedly always remember the event when he chose self preservation.

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12:11 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

Sunnie Murphy said:
How can you be so "on the fence" about this? A tazed person can't "reach for" or grab a weopon from a pocket or boot or a holster or whatever. Why didn't he taze instead of kill?!! There is nothing any of us can do to bring Norman back. Torrez should be locked up for "involuntary" murder. I hope he feels this for the rest of his life. If Torrez made the right decision the first time, why did he make the wrong decision the 2nd time? Why? Why? Why?

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11:30 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

Examiner Reader said:
Undertaker supporting a uniformed cop??? Say it ain't so. First my condolences goes out to Norman, his family and John. I know both officers and my support goes out to them both. As far as what went wrong I have no idea. It's a tragedy for everyone involved and I am happy to see that the Department hasn't thrown neither Norman or John under the bus.

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8:47 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

Examiner Reader said:
Drinking and guns don't mix. Brass knuckles are illegal. What was an officer of the law doing with brass knuckles off duty. Very tragic story, but also very disturbing.

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4:48 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Police: Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

King said:
In a major city? That would never work...Such ignorance from the uninformed....."The day law abiding citizens have the right to carry as we should, all this crime will stop!!"

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4:46 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Police: Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

King said:
More evidence that police in Baltimore are complete idiots

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4:17 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Police: Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

The Undertaker said:
If the initial reports are true - that he drew his weapon on uniformed police officers - then he deserved to get shot and no one should feel any guilt about it.

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2:34 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Police: Off-duty officer killed by Baltimore police"

johnn said:
i dont know all the details yet,but i pray its none of the officers that i know,

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9:55 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Baltimore officer, suspect wounded in street shooting"

Ms. Nakia said:
We must collect the facts before rushing to judgment. The biggest problem in the City are addicts from the county. The counties need to stop their people from coming into our neighborhoods. The county police send those addicts to the city do commit crimes. Its time for the counties to deal harshly with all the addicts coming from Dulaney High School and Towson High.

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5:57 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Baltimore officer, suspect wounded in street shooting"

Examiner Reader said:
The day law abiding citizens have the right to carry as we should, all this crime will stop!!

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5:41 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Baltimore officer, suspect wounded in street shooting"

Examiner Reader said:
Its something when these law abiding Baltimore city citizens start shooting cops with there legal fire arms. I'm sure they followed all the laws and applied for all the proper permits.

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3:14 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 8, 2008 re: "Baltimore officer shot as gunman springs from bushes"

Cash Kammer said:
Scary.

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7:22 AM MST on Mon., Feb. 4, 2008 re: "Jacksonville officer shot, suspect killed in mall shooting"

Examiner Reader said:
Why the supect Christopher Smith was only charged with a misdemeanor petty theft and resisting a merchant and released, When in fact the suspect was the codefendant of Joel Abner, Shots were fired at a police officer and officer was hit several times. Joel Abner was killed by police officer while committing a crime with Smith. I thought the law states that when a individual commits a felony and a codefendant killed in the process of the crime the other suspect will be charged with the murder. I have known of several cases pertaining to African-American male suspects that were charged with murder of codefendants. Is it because suspects were caucasian? If suspects were African-American would they have been charged with misdemeanor petty theft and resisting a merchant, I don't think so. If the police officer was would charges the same? A gun was involved and the charges still a misdemeanor?

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5:38 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 20, 2007 re: "Western Md. police officer slain; wounded suspect in custody"

Examiner Reader said:
Eye for an Eye ! This guy is the reason we need a death penalty. An officer and a woman slain . We should be ashamed of our justice system !

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1:02 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 1, 2007 re: "Two police officers shot in Baltimore"

Enchanted said:
Godspeed to both officers.

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7:20 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Two police officers shot in Baltimore"

nic said:
thank god there ok i dont know karren my husband rides with her a lot she is very good person and a good cop for the birth of our daughter she gave us serveral gifts i will pray for her and her family my story is just to let people know that she is a person.

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3:23 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Two police officers shot in Baltimore"

A Retired Courthouse Employee said:
Until the courts refuse to go along with plea negotiations but instead impose the maximum sentences as allowed by law the atrocities will continue. If the judges stick to their guns (no pun intended) and impose the maximum sentences, over time we will see a decline of this low life doing what they're doing. I blame this entire crime wave on the judiciary (not the criminals) because the judges have made a farce out of the judicial system. Each and every judge should hang his or her head in shame. The judges have been working for those ACLU BASTARDS and NOT for the citizens of this state. If the judges do not change their ways, the law abiding citizens are doomed. I have seen with my own eyes defendants high-fiving each other and laughing after receiving a suspended sentence with a period of probation. Wake up people and gives these liberal minded judges hell. They are a big part of the problem.

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6:24 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Two police officers shot in Baltimore"

Examiner Reader said:
I'm glad that they are okay. How many real heros were killed or injured in Iraq yesterday?

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9:00 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 30, 2007 re: "Two police officers shot in Baltimore"

Examiner Reader said:
The criminals are now so brazen they are shooting at cops directly in the ghetto neighborhoods. I am glad the two officers are okay, but frankly nothing will change until the politicians are finally forced to confront the fact that criminals cannot be rehabilitated and that execution is the only real deterrent out there. It certainly works in Singapore. They have a 100% execution rate for those convicted of drug dealing and possession, and oddly enough cops don't get shot at and people can walk anywhere in the city/state without fear of violence.

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1:53 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 5, 2007 re: "Robbinsdale police officer shot in Coon Rapids incident"

Examiner Reader said:
Looks like the Robbinsdale PD and Anoka DA are trying to cover up the whole event. Mr. treptow has been released and still has his permit, something the DA can pull any time. Dirty cops need to go.

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