Schneider Renews Push for Assault Weapons Ban

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) joined Rep. Cicilline (D-RI) and more than 150 colleagues to introduce legislation banning assault weapons.

"We have a responsibility to protect our children and communities from gun violence, and we are failing them," said Schneider. "Assault weapons like those used in Parkland, Las Vegas, and Newtiwn are weapons of war. They have no place on our streets or in our schools. This bill is a commonsense step to keep military-style weapons out of our communities."

The Assault Weapons Ban would prohibit the sale, transfer, production, and importation of:

• Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
• Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
• Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
• Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
• And 205 specifically-named and listed firearms.

The bill is supported by law enforcement, including the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Police Executive Research Forum, and Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation.

When an assault weapon or a high-capacity magazine is used in a shooting, the number of victims who are killed increases by 63%. There have been almost 8,300 incidents of gun violence so far in 2018. More than 2,200 Americans have lost their lives. More than 500 children have been killed or injured.

As the frequency of mass shootings has increased in recent years, assault weapons have become the weapon of choice for these murderers. Assault weapons were used in attacks on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shooters have also used assault weapons to commit mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado.