Assault Weapons Ban Picks Up Steam In Congress

(The Hill) Scott Wong 08/14/19 06:00 AM An assault weapons ban is picking up steam in the House and on the 2020 campaign trail as Democrats search for a way to respond to two recent mass shootings while putting greater political pressure on recalcitrant Republican leaders. Former Vice President Joe Biden the front-runner in the Democratic presidential primary race this week vowed to reinstate and strengthen the 1994 ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines if hes elected president declaring in a New York Times op-ed: We have to get these weapons of war off our streets." And nearly 200 House Democrats have now signed on to legislation authored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) the head of Democrats messaging operation banning semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity magazines. With 198 co-sponsors the bill is just 20 votes shy of the number needed to push it through the lower chamber. Five Democrats added their names to Cicillines Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 in the immediate aftermath of the back-to-back massacres in El Paso Texas and Dayton Ohio that left a combined 32 dead and dozens more injured. Two more got on board on Tuesday: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) the brother of Democratic presidential hopeful Julin Castro and Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) who unseated GOP Rep. David Young last fall. Meaningful action doesnt end with signing a bipartisan background checks bill which is important" Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) a co-sponsor of the Cicilline bill told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday. We have to ban high-capacity magazines that allowed the Dayton shooter and so many others to fire off tens of rounds in merely seconds. We have to ban assault weapons to get these weapons of war off our streets." A ban on military-style weapons wont become law anytime soon even if the Democratic-held House passes legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) a staunch Second Amendment advocate has no intention of bringing the legislation to the floor and President Trump has said theres no political appetite" for such a ban; both men are allies of the National Rifle Association which is vehemently opposed to any ban or moratorium.