BILL: Ban Assault Weapons? - Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 - S.25
Are we doing enough to address gun violence?
Bill
S.25 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2023
Bill Status
- Sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) by Jan. 1, 2023,
- Committees: Senate - Judiciary
- Senate: Not yet passed
- President: Not yet signed
Bill Overview
- The bill bans the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of 205 military-style assault weapons by name.
- It exempts more than 2,200 guns from the ban, which can still be used for hunting, household defense, or recreational purposes.
- It shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semi-automatic assault weapon.
- Requires a background check on any future sale, trade, or gifting of an assault weapon banned under the bill.
- Imposes secure storage procedures for grandfathered semi-automatic assault weapons like a trigger lock.
- Anyone in possession of a grandfathered weapon can not keep it in a place where it is accessible to an individual prohibited from possessing the firearm.
What's in the Bill?
Would make communities safer
- A vast majority of mass shootings in the U.S. involve assault rifles, which are designed to kill quickly in a military context.
- Since 2006, 2,880 people have died in mass shootings in the U.S.
Would re-establish former assault weapons ban
- The bill is a more expansive modern version of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
- From 1994 through 2004, when the federal ban on assault weapons was in place, mass shootings decreased. Data shows an immediate rise in shootings after the ban expired in 2004.
Bans the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons
- Bans high-capacity magazines and ammunition-feeding devices that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
- It also bans bump-fire stocks and other devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at fully automatic rates.
Ban the AR-15 assault rifle
- Barry Moore (R-Ala.) has promoted a bill to make the AR-15 the national gun of the U.S. This bill would outlaw the possession of AR-15s.
- As of May 2022, before the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings, 51% of Americans favored a nationwide ban on the sale of AR-15 rifles.
Creates a record of crimes that have been committed with a banned weapon
- Enables the Attorney General to establish and maintain records of any semi-automatic assault weapons used in committing a crime. The Attorney General will submit the records to Congress and make the records public on an annual basis.
What Supporters are Saying
"The constant stream of mass shootings have one common thread: they almost all involve assault weapons. It's because these weapons were designed to kill as many people as quickly as possible. They have no business in our communities or schools. It's time we stand up to the gun lobby and remove these weapons of war from our streets, or at the very least keep them out of the hands of young people."
"Assault weapons have only one practical purpose – to kill or injure human beings. These military-style combat weapons – built for the battlefield and designed to maximize death and destruction – have brought bloodshed and carnage to our streets and continue to be the weapon of choice in countless mass shootings. Guns don't respect state boundaries, which is why we need a national solution to restricting the ownership and use of assault weapons. Now is the time to honor gun violence victims and survivors with this common sense action."
"It is far past time to reenact an assault weapons ban and get these weapons of war out of our communities."
What Opponents are Saying
- Rep. Moore, the sponsor of the bill that would make the AR-15 the national symbol of the U.S., said:
"The anti-Second Amendment group won't stop until they take away all your firearms. One rule to remember: any government that would take away one right would take away them all."
Are we doing enough to address gun violence?
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Canva)
The Latest
-
The Long Arc: Taking Action in Times of Change“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” Martin Luther King Jr. Today in read more... Advocacy -
Thousands Displaced as Climate Change Fuels Wildfire Catastrophe in Los AngelesIt's been a week of unprecedented destruction in Los Angeles. So far the Palisades, Eaton and other fires have burned 35,000 read more... Environment -
Puberty, Privacy, and PolicyOn December 11, the Montana Supreme Court temporarily blocked SB99 , a law that sought to ban gender-affirming care for read more... Families -
Women Are Shaping This Election — Why Is the Media Missing It?As we reflect on the media coverage of this election season, it’s clear that mainstream outlets have zeroed in on the usual read more... Elections
Climate & Consumption
Health & Hunger
Politics & Policy
Safety & Security
Under the 1994 assault weapons ban mass shooting decreased until it expired and then they increased.
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/03/did-assault-weapon-ban-correspond-with-drop-in-mass-shootings-what-the-data-shows.html?outputType=amp
Didn't know which question to answer.
No, we're not doing enough.
Yes, I support an assault weapons ban.
The only thing all these mass murders have in common is guns. Stop the guns.
Let's get to the root of the problem with the AR-15 style weapons, the use a very high powered, very high velocity ammunition ! This ammo causes unbelievable damage to humans! Ask any doctor that has worked on a victim of this type of gun violence! Ok would for starters have a 300% tax on this ammo to help victims from this Ammo!
Just remember we have thousands of these guns already in existence! I also know hundreds of thousands of rounds are stock piled in people's closets! But as things do happen it does get used up and people will purchase more!
Also keep records of who purchased the round on a national database that all law enforcement can access!
Assault weapons need to be banned, and no one should own one.
Okay @Causes. This was tricky. Which question am I answering. Should we ban assault weapons? (Yes!) Or is it Are we doing enough? (No) You can't ask two questions on the same poll that are opposing views. What the hell?
After listening to the tragic Uvalde review this morning on NPR. I was totally unaware police officers flack vest can not fend off an AR rifle bullet. The only officers with vest that can help some what was the SWAT Team who was over an hour away. Two officers were shot attempting to get the shooter. That changes my whole opinion of the AR rifle and large magazines. I am just not sure if the Ban on AR style rifles and large magazines would help. Or would it be a run on those rifles and magazines. It amazes me how companies can see the harm their products are doing. But the $$ means more than innocent lives of children and regular folks. Big business is running America. Our politicians are afraid of losing their positions in office, if they speak out. This is very similar to the tobacco industry a few years ago. Only now they make their money off countries other the United States. Sad isn't it, and we have so many frozen into the belief, they need these weapons.
We need to do something to control the firearms that use supersonic ammunition! This high speed, high energy ammunition causes unbelievable damage to humans! It was developed for urban warfare and has no place for home defense or hunting!
I see this ammo on sale next to checkouts and wonder where this ammunition is going and who it's going to hurt severely!
As a public schools teacher and someone who has dated a marine, I am opposed to ordinary folks owning assault style weapons. There is no need for them. We need stronger protections against them.
We are not doing enough to prevent gun violence. No more thought s and prayers. Do
I support Bill S.25 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2023.
Thereis no reason for anyone to own such destructive weapons. No one's trying to ban all guns, just the most dangerous.
We all have to pass tests, be registered and pass regulations in order to own/drive a vehicle. Why would we regulate something even more dangerous like a gun any less?
Yes, we should ban assault weapons for a safer future.
I fully support a ban on assault response. These weapons of war have no place in our civil society.
This bill is a waste of time to even be on the floor. Laws dont stop criminals
"Well-regulated malitia"....how about WELL-REGULATED CITZENRY?!!!!
So, you can insure 'gun safety' for us all. Don't be cowardly anymore.
There is absolutely no reason for anyone to own an assault weapon
The constitution is clear: if you want to play with guns you can join a well regulated militia, i.e. the armed forces. Other than that, firearms for hunting and other uses should be limited to muskets, and muskets should be licensed and insured.
If you want to have assault weapons, join the National Guard.
that way the mentally I'll have a better chance of being weeded out.
Army Vet, '61-'64.
80yo, never met/saw/Heard of, any Animal, Requiring More Power than a Semi-Auto provides, to Stop Dead, any animal, except HUMANS!
Truth be Me!
Sale of guns, rifles, etc., is not the problem. The fact that databases are nation/world wide is. We should be passing bills that let law advising citizens open/conceal carry nation wide.
Common sense tells us no American needs an assault weapon. Only a crazy person would think they need one. And I think we can all agree crazy people are the ones that really really shouldn't have them. Let's stop confusing rights with perpetuating violence.
Gun violence is a terrible problem that has affected countless communities across the U.S. Evidence is clear that countries with tighter gun laws don't have near as many gun related tragedies. The more gun restrictions, the safer America is.
What about mental
Funny, if you read the Second Amendment, they don't seem to have even considered that there was any need to mention hunting, sporting, or self-defense. In 1791 it would have been absurd to suggest taking away people's ability to hunt or protect their farm.
Then what were they so concerned about that they addressed it even before amendments mentioning significant legal rights?
They intended the balance of power to favor the citizens, not the federal government.
You need to do deeper. The misuse of assault weapons speaks to a deeper social illness. We need to understand why we have many mass shootings. It isn't all guns. It isn't all mental illness. There are many causes and there isn't enough being done to address the roots and causes of the violence issue. Think of an iceberg, you only see the top third, what is there beneath the surface? It's not as easy to identify but in addressing it, you will be more helpful to society.
We need stricker gun laws and to ban assault rifles entirely. There are way too many people with firearms who shouldn't have them under any circumstances. We must regulate handguns and ban these weapons of war within our society.
Let's look at a recent NBC news article bemoaning weekend shootings:
"At approximately 12:25 AM police were called.." to "a peaceful "celebration of Juneteenth" that began at 6 p.m."
"The shooting came hours after two people were killed and three injured near the the Beyond Wonderland electronic dance music festival in Washington State."
"Another deadly shooting took place just after 1 a.m. in St. Louis, Missouri... at a party being held on the fifth floor of the building, an office space..."
So, 4 people were killed at 3 different parties between the hours of 8pm and 2am. There is no specific mention of whether alcohol was involved. There is no indication whether any group rivalries were factors in motivating the violence. The type of weapons used was not specified.
What all three incidents definitely have in common is that they occurred at parties that started in the evening and lasted late into the night.
Look at the details in these "tragic weekend shootings" articles, and the times and places reveal a factor that nobody is willing to address. Think the NRA has influence? Try telling people they can't party after 10pm.