Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) supported passage of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, legislation she cosponsored to ban the sale of dangerous weapons of war that have become the firearm of choice for mass shooters.

“Weapons of war have no place on our streets. A renewal of the assault weapons ban that decreased mass shootings for a decade before 2004 is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Passing this commonsense legislation into law will save lives, and the data we have from the previous ban backs that up. I’m proud to support the Assault Weapons Ban, and I firmly believe that the Senate should call for a vote on it without delay. We owe it to every family who wants nothing more than to be able to safely send their kids to school or pray in their house of worship to get this legislation across the finish line without delay.”

When assault weapons are used to commit mass shootings, six times as many people are shot on average, and eight out of ten of the deadliest mass shootings in recent history have involved an assault weapon that would have been previously banned under the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. That includes the mass shootings in Las Vegas, Pulse Nightclub, Sandy Hook, Sutherland Springs, El Paso, Uvalde, Parkland, and San Bernardino. Researchers estimate that a renewal of a federal assault weapons ban would result in a 70 percent decrease in mass shooting deaths.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 bans the import, sale, manufacture, or transfer of:

• Semi-automatic rifles capable of accepting a detachable magazine that can accept at least one of the following features: pistol grip; forward grip; folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; grenade launcher; barrel shroud; or threaded barrel.
• All semi-automatic rifles having a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
• Bump stocks and any device or attachment that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun.
• High-capacity magazines capable of accepting more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

The legislation would not require anyone to forfeit firearms or high-capacity magazines they legally own prior to its enactment. It also specifies that these restrictions do not apply to antique firearms, manually operated firearms, and more than 2,000 specified models of hunting and sporting firearms.

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