Big Bite: What is in the “Assault Weapons Ban 2022” Bill?

Photo by Bexar Arms on Unsplash

The House on Friday passed a bill to ban assault weapons. The assault weapons ban legislation was led by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and co-sponsored by 207 voting Democrats.

The legislation, titled the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, cleared the chamber in a 217-213 vote.

Republican Reps. Chris Jacobs (N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) supported the measure, while Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Kurt Schrader (Ore.), and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) voted “no.”

The bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer, or import of various semi-automatic assault rifles, semi-automatic pistols, and semi-automatic shotguns, depending on their features.

All semi-automatic rifles that are subject to the ban are those that can accept detachable magazines and have a:

• pistol grip

• forward grip

• grenade launcher

• barrel shroud

• threaded barrel or,

• folding, telescoping, or detachable stock

Semi-automatic assault rifles with fixed magazines that can accept more than 15 rounds are subject to the ban and would also be prohibited under the legislation except for those with an attached tubular device that can only hold .22 caliber rimfire ammunition. The majority of rifles have the capacity to hold up to 30 rounds.

A semiautomatic pistol that is subject to ban is one that has a fixed ammunition feeding device that has the capacity to accept more than 15 rounds.

Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder or a semi-automatic shotgun that has the capacity to accept a detachable ammunition feeding device or a fixed ammunition feeding device that has the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds; and has any 1 of the following:

• folding, telescoping, or detachable stock.

• pistol grip or bird's head grip.

• forward grip.

• grenade launcher

Anyone who currently owns any of the firearms that meet the descriptions is grandfathered in. This bill is not expected to pass the Senate.

Sources

• H.R.1808 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2022

• House passes bill to ban assault weapons, The Hill

• House Democrats pass a ban on assault weapons, ABC News

• ‘Gun Grab’: House Passes Bill Banning Certain Semi-Automatic Guns, Daily Wire