ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Congressman William Lacy Clay announced a $200,000 dollar grant for the St Louis City Drug Court today.

The Drug Court focuses on treatment and job training instead of jail time for non-violent offenders.

The longtime congressman also renewed his call for a federal assault weapons ban to combat gun violence.

“I have the upmost respect for the 2nd Amendment, I happen to be a gun owner,” Clay said. “I took it up as a sport, going to the firing range.”

Clay says he’s been a gun owner for over twenty years but no one needs an assault weapon to be a hunter.

“There’s no logical reason to allow those weapons to proliferate on our streets.”