UPDATE: The House Judiciary Committee approved the ban by a 25-18 vote. It will now move to the House floor for a full vote in the coming weeks. The date for that vote has not been set.
Legislation to ban so-called “assault weapons” is on the move this week in our nation’s capitol.
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday held a markup on H.R. 1808, “The Assault Weapons Ban of 2021“, a bill to ban the sale, import, manufacture or transfer of certain semi-automatic weapons.
Sponsored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and cosponsored by 213 additional lawmakers, the sweeping legislation would not only ban modern sporting rifles but also magazines with a capacity of over 10 rounds.
“Over the past several decades, our country has witnessed senseless killing after senseless kill and each time one fact has remained remarkably consistent—the weapon of choice for mass slaughter is a high-powered assault weapon,” said Committee Chairman Nadler in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
“It is beyond frightening and disturbing that a weapon that was designed as a tool of war has found its way into the hands of 18 year olds and onto our streets,” he continued. “Any weapon that allows for the quick and efficient slaughter of children in our schools has no place in our communities.”
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Per Nadler’s press release, H.R. 1808 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 semiautomatic rifle but not convert the semiautomatic rifle into a machinegun.
- All semiautomatic 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; or (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; or (7) shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
- High capacity feeding devices (magazines, strips, and drums) capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.
There would be a grandfather clause for selling, transferring, and possessing modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines lawfully owned prior to the enactment of the ban.
It would also exempt antique firearms, manually-operated firearms, and more than 2,000 specified models of firearms.
Along with holding a markup for H.R. 1808, the committee also reviewed H.R. 2814, the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, a bill to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).
The PLCAA prevents frivolous lawsuits against members of the firearm industry for the criminal misuse of a lawfully sold firearm by a remote third party, as the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has pointed out.
The PLCAA “is nothing more than a codification of basic tort law, that the industry cannot be held responsible for the criminal actions committed by others,” says NSSF, the firearms industry trade association.
Both bills are likely to make it out of the committee. They will then head to the House floor full a vote.
Stay tuned for updates.