The US House Judiciary Committee Wednesday marked up and advanced two bills that would ban assault-style rifles and make it easier to sue gun manufacturers if their weapons are used unlawfully.
The first bill, advanced in a 25-18 vote, entitled the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2021” (H.R. 1808), forbids the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon or a large capacity ammunition feeding device. The bill makes exceptions including for possession of those weapons or ammunition obtained before the date of enactment of the bill.
The bill also mandates grandfathered semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices to be stored securely where unauthorized individuals cannot have access. Additionally, any large capacity ammunition feeding device or semiautomatic assault weapon manufactured after the date of enactment will need to be marked with a serial number and date of manufacture.
A Republican-sponsored amendment to provide an exception for Supreme Court justices, with ranking member Jim Jordan specifically referencing the attempted attack on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was voted down.
The second bill, “Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act,” passed in a 24-18 vote and repeals the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which prohibits civil actions against manufacturers and suppliers of firearms and ammunition for any damages resulting from unlawful use of a firearm. It also repeals limitations on admitting gun trace data as evidence in civil lawsuits and administrative proceedings.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said:
As we have painfully learned in recent years, assault weapons—especially when combined with high-capacity magazines—are the weapon of choice for mass shootings because they’re designed to kill with ruthless efficiency. This legislation will remove these dangerous weapons of war from our communities and is another step towards keeping our children and families safe from gun violence.
These bills are the latest advancement in gun legislation after the latest string of gun fatalities this summer. President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last month strengthening background checks, then renewed calls for legislation banning assault weapons. Last month, the Supreme Court also struck down New York state’s limits on carrying concealed handguns.
The new version of the bill will be brought to the Democrat-controlled House for a vote, where it is expected to advance. Its odds will be more slim in the Senate.
