Sparhawk,
This is because of two factors.
1: The word "traces" is the key in the first. What they mean here is that ammunition which -could have been fired- by an AW was found. This includes almost all light-medium calibre pistol ammo, as well as several types of medium rifle ammunition, including .308, 7.62x39mm, 5.56mm NATO, and 30-06. All such ammunition is commonly available, and used in many types of weapons, both "assault" and not. This is especially true of pistol ammunition, since the AWB covers several types of weapon which fire pistol-calibre ammunition.
2: This seques nicely into the second part of the equation; the drop in overall firearms-related violent crime. As more states have become Concealed-carry states, violent crime as a whole, and particularly crimes in which a firearm was used, have dropped, in some cases by nearly 60% ( Florida, for instance ). This has resulted in smaller numbers of "assault weapon" calibre projectiles being recovered ( see above ) as fewer guns are being used. Since the rate of drop in gun-use crimes ( A ) is greater than the rate of drop in violent crime overall ( B ) by a slight margin, we get the drop you indicate.
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"I personally think that America's interests would be well served if after or at the time these clowns begin their revolting little hate crime the local police come in and cart them off on some trumped up charges or other. It is necessary in my opinion that America makes an example of them to the world."
--Strange Famous, advocating the use of falsified charges in order to shut people up.
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