In reaction to a spate of gun crimes this year, the House moved on a bill to ban assault-style guns on Friday.
This was a move pioneered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The action comes after Democrats, on Friday, failed to get enough votes to adopt broader public safety initiatives.
These bills’ talks are anticipated to continue until the summer.
1994-2004
The vote was the first attempt by legislators to revive the nationwide ban, which was in effect from 1994 to 2004. However, it is improbable that the idea will reach President Biden’s table.
Pelosi told journalists at the Capitol on Friday that she is ecstatic because she has long desired the reinstatement of the assault weapon prohibition.
Pelosi stated if you weren’t here or perhaps weren’t even born in the 1990s, it was difficult, but it saved lives. In addition, she anticipates its passage this afternoon.
Pelosi stated her remarks would include “a demonstration of what some totally reckless people are doing everywhere about little kids.”
She said there are “toddlers training how to use an assault rifle, smaller assault rifles, but a gun like mommy and daddy, and getting their muscles strong enough to use it.”
[BREAKING] Speaker Nancy Pelosi Says House Will Pass Assault Weapons Ban Friday Afternoon https://t.co/U83805xojn
— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) July 29, 2022
Pelosi said there is a “cry” to reestablish the ban throughout the country.
Following the attacks in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York, last month’s Quinnipiac University Poll indicated the majority of Americans, 57 percent to 38 percent, favor stricter gun legislation in the United States.
However, when surveyed on specific measures, the majority of respondents support conducting background checks for all gun purchasers and implementing “red flag” regulations.
Nancy Pelosi says that the bill "prohibits the sale, manufacture, or transfer of semi-automatic assault weapons" and then says "this isn't about taking guns away from people who should have them. It's about safe storage. You got a problem with that?" pic.twitter.com/KwHCUPkqCW
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 29, 2022
50 percent of respondents supported nationwide restrictions on selling semi-automatic rifles, while 45 percent opposed it.
Quinnipiac said it was the lowest level of support for a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons among eligible voters since February 2013.
Plans For the Bill
Similar legislation was passed by the Senate in 1993 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994.
However, the law contained a clause allowing it to end after ten years. It did so in 2004 when a Republican-majority Congress did not extend it during the administration of former President George W. Bush.
In a Friday “Dear Colleague” letter, Pelosi stated Democrats made significant progress in negotiations on public safety precautions and they still intend to bring these ideas to the floor.
Pelosi Gets Her Way
Nancy Pelosi got her way with the assault weapon ban as the House voted 217-213 in favor. The speaker was seen smiling sheepishly as she achieved her goal.
Interestingly, five Democrats voted against the bill, while two Republicans voted for it.
However, even with this win for Pelosi and the Democrats, the bill will get them nowhere. Nevertheless, one thing they can do is to use it as a campaign token in the midterms.
This article appeared in The Political Globe and has been published here with permission.
