JUST IN: Senator Adam Schiff files federal legislation to ban “assault weapons” nationwide.
“Since 2006, 486 mass sho*tings involving assault weapons.”
“This bill is a way to attack that massive threat.” pic.twitter.com/mfG8d78DMO
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 30, 2025
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced legislation last week aiming to impose a sweeping national ban on what he labels “assault weapons,” reviving a controversial proposal once championed by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Schiff, joined by Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Representative Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) seek to prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of many popular semi-automatic firearms and magazines holding more than ten rounds.
“Assault weapons are designed for one thing: to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible,” Schiff claimed, echoing familiar rhetoric from proponents of gun control. The bill is presented as a revival of Feinstein’s original 1994 legislation, which lapsed in 2004 after Congress declined to renew it.
Senator Adam Schiff, a recipient of a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden in January 2025, for as yet unidentified crimes, alongside other public figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and former Representative Liz Cheney.
President Biden emphasized that these pardons did not imply any wrongdoing or guilt on the part of the recipients …right.
Schiff argues the previous ban reduced mass shootings and fatalities, asserting gun massacres fell by 37% during the ban’s decade-long existence. “The Assault Weapons Ban saved lives. There is no escaping that fact,” Schiff stated. However, gun rights advocates and data analysts dispute this narrative, highlighting a 2004 Department of Justice study that found the ban had little to no measurable effect on gun crime rates.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) swiftly responded, labeling Schiff “Lyin’ Adam Schiff” and strongly denying his claim that NRA members broadly support such restrictions. “We know gun control only emboldens criminals and leaves peaceable Americans at risk,” the NRA countered.
Lyin’ Adam Schiff doesn’t speak for NRA members. We know gun control only emboldens criminals and leaves peaceable Americans at risk.
Oh, and Adam, the right to keep and bear arms isn’t up for negotiation! pic.twitter.com/P1Y88zxMk0
— NRA (@NRA) April 30, 2025
Critics argue Schiff’s proposal broadly defines “assault weapons” in a way that encompasses common firearms legally owned by millions of Americans for self-defense and sporting purposes. UCLA law professor Adam Winkler previously noted, “rifles, assault or otherwise, are rarely used in gun crime,” pointing out that rifles constitute only a small fraction of firearm-related homicides compared to handguns or even non-firearm-related violence.
Gun rights organizations emphasize that such legislation primarily targets law-abiding citizens, rather than addressing underlying issues of crime and mental health. “This bill is a clear attempt at disarming everyday Americans, leaving them defenseless while doing little to nothing to stop actual crime,” stated a representative from a leading pro-gun advocacy group.
When the assault weapons ban expired, gun deaths rose by 183%.
We need to get these weapons of war off of our streets – whether the @NRA likes it or not. https://t.co/o1yEWeYNDw
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) April 30, 2025
Despite Schiff and his colleagues touting widespread public support and endorsements from organizations like Everytown and March for Our Lives, the renewed push for an “assault weapons” ban faces an uphill battle in a deeply divided Congress, where strong Second Amendment advocacy continues to resonate among many voters.
As debates heat up, pro-gun advocates remain steadfast, highlighting constitutional protections and the practical ineffectiveness of previous bans. Schiff’s renewed effort signals an ongoing clash in the legislative arena, pitting constitutional rights against repeated attempts at restrictive gun control measures.
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