Washington, D.C. — Today, Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) hosted a press conference alongside Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) announcing the bicameral reintroduction of the federal Assault Weapons Ban. The legislation would ban certain semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity gun magazines. These types of weapons are frequently used in mass shootings, including such high-profile tragedies as Highland Park, Uvalde, Parkland, and the Atlanta spa shootings. The bill has more than 100 original House co-sponsors and was introduced in the Senate by Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
“Assault weapons are made to murder and maim. These weapons of war do not belong on our streets, in our classrooms, or in our spaces of worship,” Rep. McBath said. “Since the death of my son, I have dedicated my life to preventing more families from feeling the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. No one should fear for their child’s safety when they head off to school or the mall. Banning assault weapons is a proven way to prevent horrific massacres from devastating our country. I thank Senator Schiff and my House colleagues for their support of this important bill.”
“Thirty-one years ago, after the Stockton schoolyard shooting in California, Senator Feinstein successfully led bipartisan legislation to ban military-style assault weapons. Over the next ten years, and until the measure expired, the assault weapons ban was a vital tool in the struggle to reduce gun violence and mass shootings. It saved lives. Today, I’m honored to carry on the legacy of Dianne Feinstein, and work to ban these weapons that have led to the most terrible mass casualty events in our communities. The time to act on this life-saving legislation is now — not tomorrow, not next week, and not when the next tragedy strikes,” said Senator Schiff.
Evidence shows that an assault weapons ban will save lives. A federal assault weapons ban was in place from 1994 until 2004, and a 2019 study found that mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely to occur during that time. Notably, former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan wrote a joint letter to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 in support of that ban. Since coming to Congress in 2019, McBath has played a key role in advancing gun violence prevention legislation. In 2022, she helped pass a federal assault weapons ban out of committee for the first time in nearly 30 years.
The bill is endorsed by Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, March Fourth, and Newtown Action Alliance, and Giffords.
“From Sandy Hook, to Buffalo, to Uvalde, to Las Vegas, assault weapons have been used repeatedly to inflict the most violence in the shortest time possible. These weapons of war have no place on our streets or in our communities; the easy availability of such firearms creates opportunities for radicalized individuals to inflict mass damage on the public. Congress must say that enough is enough and reinstate the assault weapons ban. Brady thanks Senator Schiff and Representative McBath for reintroducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 and for their continued dedication to freeing America from gun violence,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy, Brady.
“As we’ve learned from too many mass shootings, when our streets are flooded with weapons of war, those same streets will become war zones,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We applaud Senator Schiff and Congresswoman McBath for introducing legislation to keep assault weapons out of civilian hands, which is the very definition of a common-sense gun safety law.”
“There is a reason mass shooters choose assault weapons — they can cause an enormous amount of damage and violence in a short period of time. It’s time that Congress take action to manage these firearms and keep them out of dangerous hands. GIFFORDS applauds Senator Schiff and Representative McBath for their leadership in introducing this legislation,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown.
“We support a ban on assault weapons because we know it works—and we know what happens when we don’t. Schools, grocery stores, and places of worship are turned into crime scenes. The cost of inaction is unbearable, and the pattern is impossible to ignore. March Fourth is grateful for the reintroduction of the Assault Weapons Ban—a measure a majority of Americans already support. This bill isn’t about politics—it’s about restoring a basic sense of safety across America, and finally taking action to end the epidemic of mass shootings,” said Kitty Brandtner, Founder, March Fourth.
“As a neighbor of the Sandy Hook shooter, I know the unbearable pain that weapons of war inflict on families and communities. For over a decade, we have worked tirelessly with Senator Feinstein, Congressman Cicilline, and courageous gun violence survivors to build the Campaign Against Assault Weapons and fight for the strongest possible assault weapons ban. We are grateful to Representative McBath for reintroducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 — the gold standard bill that has been the model for state bans. When we win back the trifecta, we will be ready to pass this life-saving legislation once and for all. We owe it to the children and families we have lost, and those who live in daily fear, to pass this bill when the moment comes," said Po Murray, chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance.