More than 30 House Democrats have put forward legislation that would impose a ban on all assault weapon imports, which they say is needed to reduce mass shootings in the United States.
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., says that under current law, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is allowed to ban assault weapons. But she says the ATF has been cowed by the National Rifle Association, and says her bill is needed to force the ATF to use its authority.
Specifically, it would require the ATF to ban assault weapons and parts, including semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns as defined in legislation proposed by gun control advocates last year.
The ATF would have to create a list of banned weapons, and the bill directs the agency to report to Congress on how the bill is implemented.
“Cheap foreign assault weapons are a favorite tool of cartels, mass shooters, and even [the Islamic State], which used guns that had been imported to the United States to carry out the Paris attacks,” said Speier. “They give these individuals the power to kill and wound scores of victims in seconds, and that’s why the ATF has the power to ban them.”
“Now we have to stop letting NRA lobbyists control what kinds of weapons come to our shores, and close this loophole before more people end up dead,” she added.
The Democratic bill proposed last year defined a “semiautomatic assault weapon” as any firearm with features like pistol grips, detachable stocks, or the capacity to carry additional rounds.
