Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer this week joined Congressman David Cicilline to introduce H.R. 5087, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018.

“We need the Assault Weapons Ban because we have to get weapons of war out of America’s communities,” said Rep. Beyer. “It is too late to stop the shootings in Parkland, Newtown, Aurora, and so many others which were carried out with an AR-15 style rifle, but we must act to prevent future such massacres. Congress should listen to the young people in Florida and across the country and pass this lifesaving measure immediately.”

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 percent. 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.