Following the recent church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that left 26 people dead, Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday that would make it illegal to sell, transfer, manufacture or import military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
The bill, titled the Assault Weapons Ban of 2017, would prohibit assault weapons that use detachable magazines and have at least one military-style characteristic, as well as ammunition-feeding devices that hold 10 or more rounds.
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), who introduced the bill with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 20 additional Democratic cosponsors, said Congress cannot ignore the nation’s gun violence epidemic any longer.
“The names of too many American communities and cities — from Sutherland Springs to Las Vegas, Orlando to San Bernardino, Newtown to Aurora — invoke painful memories of murder and mayhem inflicted by these deadly weapons,” Carper said. “In the wake of these tragedies, it’s time to renew the ban on military-style assault weapons. These deadly weapons were designed for the battlefield — they have no place in our neighborhoods.”
All weapons that are in lawful possession at the time of the bill’s enactment would be exempt under the measure. More than 2,200 guns with hunting, household, defense, and recreational purposes would also be exempt. However, grandfathered assault weapons would have to be stored with trigger locking devices, secured storage or other safety measures in place.
Bump stocks and other devices that enable semi-automatic weapons to fire as fully automatic would also be made illegal under the bill, and background checks would be required for the sale, trade or gifting of any assault weapon covered under the bill.