Rep. Meeks Renews Push for Assault Weapons Ban

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban, which was introduced yesterday.

"Gun violence takes and shatters the lives of hundreds of Americans every day," said Rep. Gregory Meeks. "Republicans and absolutist gun rights advocates believe that their second amendment right eclipses those rights of everyone else. That singular right shouldn't be the reason kids and parents live in constant fear that they and their loved ones could be mowed down at any moment by a coward with an assault weapon. Every other amendment has reasonable limits placed on them, as decided by the judiciary, and so too should the second amendment. Reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban would make weapons of war less accessible and our communities much safer."

The Assault Weapons Ban will 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.
"Assault weapons were made for one purpose. They are designed to kill as many people as possible in a short amount of time. They do not belong in our communities," said U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline (RI-01), the House sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban. "I am proud to introduce the Assault Weapons Ban with the support of leaders in law enforcement. It's on all of us to end this carnage."

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 Florida and the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. Shooters have also used assault weapons to commit mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School and a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado.

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