Media Contact:  Patrick Wright   --  Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. helped pass a bill today to prevent the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines for civilian use.  The bill, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 (H.R. 1808), would reduce the amount of such weapons on American streets and allow states to use grants to buy back semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines from Americans who own them already.  America had a similar ban on assault weapons from 1994 to 2004.  During that time, mass shooting deaths dropped 70 percent and there were 40 percent fewer crimes committed with assault weapons.   

“There is no reason why civilians should have assault weapons or high-capacity magazines,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “They are weapons of war and should not be on American streets.  This bill will lower the incidents of gun violence and save lives.  In addition, I am proud that this bill includes a provision to provide communities with federal grants to buy back assault weapons from American owners.  I introduced a bill called the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act, which would fund such grants and local gun buyback programs.  I hope the Senate passes this bill soon because we must do more to prevent gun violence across America.”   

Original source can be found here.