A Democrat lawmaker is relaunching efforts to ban “assault weapons” in the United States. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced a bill on Monday with the aim of prohibiting particular guns and high-capacity magazines.
I just reintroduced the Assault Weapons Ban and Age 21 Act, two bills that would protect our communities and schools from assault weapons. https://t.co/LStZez9hpU
— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) January 24, 2023
In a news release, she explained that the ban would include a modified 9 mm semi-automatic weapon, the gun used by the Monterey Park shooter that killed up to 11 people and wounded about nine on January 21.
Feinstein’s bill, if passed into law, would see to the ban of the “sale, manufacture, transfer and importation” of 205 firearm types. It also tightens the leash on assault weapons covered by the bill as they would require background checks before they are sold, traded or even gifted in the future.
Despite the fact that the proposed ban would not have stopped the gunman from acquiring the gun he used in the tragic attack as California already has stringent gun laws, Feinstein did say the reintroduction of the bill was spurred by the shooting.
“We were tragically reminded this weekend of the deadly nature of assault weapons when a shooter used one to kill 11 people and injure 9 more at a Lunar New Year celebration in California,” she stated.
Of the weapons, she said, “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,” she added.
The Assault Weapons Ban is joined by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).
“As used by the Lunar New Year’s shooter only days ago in Monterey Park, assault weapons have only one practical purpose — to kill or injure human beings. Now is the time to honor gun violence victims and survivors with this common sense action,” Blumenthal said.
Feinstein, Blumenthal, and Murphy also introduced legislation to raise the minimum age allowed to purchase assault weapons. From 18, they are proposing to get the minimum age to 21 through the Age 21 Act.
Supporting the Assault Weapons Ban is President Joe Biden, who has urged both levels of Congress to move fast on the bill and bring it to his table.
Despite the president’s enthusiasm, the possibility of the bill ever getting to his desk is a little dim as it has very little chance of passing the Republican-controlled House. Its chances of success in the Senate are also a bit wobbly considering how the last assault weapons ban from last year was stalled in the Senate after passing a Democrat-controlled House.
