Rep. Barragán Votes for Historic Assault Weapons Ban

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) voted to ban assault weapons, the first time the House of Representatives has passed legislation to ban their sale or use since the original law expired in 2004.

The bill bans the sale and manufacture of semiautomatic assault weapons (SAW) and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (LCAFD). These weapons and magazines have been used at many of the worst mass shootings in this country over the last few decades.

"Congress should have never let the assault weapons ban expire back in 2004," said Rep. Barragán. "Studies show that mass shooting fatalities are reduced by 70% when these horrific weapons of war are not available for sale. The mass shootings in Highland Park, Uvalde, Las Vegas, Parkland, El Paso, Orlando and so many other communities in America have shown the horrible damage these weapons cause in a short period of time. Thoughts and prayers in response to mass shootings will never prevent a future shooting and are of no comfort to families who've lost loved ones because of these weapons of war. Today, Democrats in the House stood up for families and communities across this country who have been devastated by the murder and mayhem caused by these weapons."

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 would:

Prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of SAWs and LCAFDs, subject to grandfathering provisions and other exceptions.
Define SAWs to include:
Rifles, shotguns, and pistols that are semiautomatic, can accept a detachable ammunition feeding device, and have at least one additional listed feature that make firearms especially deadly, including military features identified in ATF reports under the Bush and Clinton Administrations
Certain semiautomatic firearms with LCAFDs
Specific prohibited firearms listed by model and manufacturer
Frames, receivers, and copies of these firearms
Allow the possession of any SAW lawfully purchased on the date of enactment
Allow the sale or transfer of any SAW lawfully possessed on the date of enactment following a background check
And require that SAWs are securely stored so that they are not accessible to those who are prohibited from possessing them.

Source