House Democrats Pass ‘Assault Weapons Ban’ with GOP Support after Moderates Get Cold Feet

The House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday that would ban most semi-automatic weapons currently in use in the U.S, including AR-15s.
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 Act, first introduced by Democratic Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline, would ban semi-automatic weapons that contain a magazine, a pistol or forward grip and a “folding, telescoping, or detachable stock.” Two-hundred and fifteen Democrats and two Republicans supported the legislation, while 208 out of 213 “no” votes came from Republicans. The bill is not expected to pass the Senate.
“These military style weapons were designed for the battlefield, with maximum efficiency for when a soldier is engaged in combat. The military features banned by this bill are added to make these guns more accurate, more controllable, more concealable, and more deadly,” Cicilline said in a floor speech urging colleagues to support the regulation.
House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York touted the bill during a committee markup as banning weapons that are in “common use” across the U.S.