Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement after House passage of H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022.
“Assault weapons are the weapons of choice for mass shooters. They have no place in the hands of consumers,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “The people of Ventura County know firsthand the destruction that assault weapons can cause. In 2018, 12 innocent people were murdered at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks. The weapon used during this tragedy would be banned under this legislation. We not only lost 12 remarkable lives, the impact on their family and friends will be felt for the rest of their lives.
“While no single bill can prevent all mass shootings, this bill will save lives if we can get it to the President’s desk. Senate Republicans must do the right, just, and moral thing, and work with my Democratic colleagues to get this commonsense legislation over the finish line. Every day of inaction by the Senate is a day that threatens the lives of countless Americans.”
Assault Weapons were banned from 1994 – 2004. After the Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004, the number of guns manufactured annually in the United States surged from approximately 3 million in 2004 to over 11 million in 2020. The average number of people killed from active shooter incidents per year increased by 312 percent after the ban expired.
Once enacted, this bill would:
- Prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines. This legislation is similar to the ban enacted in 1994.
- The prohibition does not apply to the possession, sale or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon lawfully possessed on the date of enactment
- Allow for the transfer of grandfathered semiautomatic assault weapons through a federal firearms licensee following a background check using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
- Require that semiautomatic assault weapons be securely stored so that they are not accessible to those who are prohibited from possessing them.
- Allow states to use Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds for voluntary buyback programs for semiautomatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
- The bill also includes exemptions for specific uses such as law enforcement, nuclear security, and testing authorized by the Attorney General.
- Allow for temporary transfers without a background check for target shooting at a licensed target facility or established range.
The bill would make it unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, or transfer the following:
- All semi-automatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one of the following military features (1) pistol grip; (2) forward grip; (3) folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; (4) grenade launcher; (5) barrel shroud, or (6) threaded barrel.
- All semi-automatic rifles that have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
- Bump fire stocks and any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle but not convert the semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun.
- All semi-automatic pistols that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one of the following military features (1) threaded barrel (2) second pistol grip (3) barrel shroud (4) capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip (5) semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.
- All semi-automatic shotguns that have at least one of the following: (1) a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock (2) pistol grip (3) fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds (4) ability to accept a detachable magazine (5) forward grip (6) grenade launcher (7) shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
- High capacity magazines capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.
The House of Representatives passed this bill by a vote of 217-211.
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Issues: 117th Congress, Gun Safety, Gun Violence Prevention