It is estimated there are at least 4 million assault weapons in our country, however there are also many definitions of assault weapons. Some people classify assault weapons according to military specifications. To others, all high-powered auto-loading weapons with large capacity magazines are assault weapons. Still others believe an assault weapon is any gun that is not a hunting rifle, shotgun or handgun. Many people have difficulty envisioning practical uses for assault weapons. Since the 1980s however, selling militarized firearms to civilians has been the gun industry’s main marketing strategy. Called “modern sporting rifles” by manufacturers, these weapons are the fastest growing segment of the rifle–manufacturing industry, boasting a growth rate of 27%. Although assault weapons have been used in many horrific mass-shootings, they are only used in about 20% of all gun crime.

Supporters claim assault-style weapons are no more or less dangerous than most hunting rifles. Opponents say a semi-automatic weapon is capable of causing much greater carnage than a single-shot hunting rifle.

Pending Legislation: H.R.3115 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (GA)
Status: House Committee on the Judiciary
Chair: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH)

• I oppose reforming current assault weapons policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
• I support banning the import, sale, manufacture, and transfer of certain semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices by:
  
  1.) Prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transfer, and importation of specific types of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
  
  2.) Banning large-capacity ammunition feeding devices that can hold more than 15 rounds.
  
  3.) Defining what constitutes a "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include any semiautomatic rifle with the capacity to accept a detachable magazine that also has a pistol grip; a forward grip; a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; a grenade launcher; a barrel shroud; or a threaded barrel. Rifles include all AK and AR types, including specific models like the AK-47, AR-15, and Beretta AR-70. Pistols include various AK-type and AR-type pistols, as well as Calico pistols and other specified models.
  
  4.) Allowing for certain exceptions for specific types of firearms, including: lever-action, bolt-action, and single-shot firearms, some competition rifles, and certain models of shotguns.
  
  5.) Requiring for semiautomatic assault weapons legally owned before the bill's enactment ("grandfathered" weapons), the bill includes regulations for secure storage and mandates their registration.
  
  6.) Allowing individuals to sell their regulated firearms to the government in voluntary buy-back programs.
  
  7.) Enacting violations of the new regulations that result in penalties. The legislation also mandates that all regulated firearms and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices be marked with a unique serial number and manufacturing date.
  
  And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.