U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO) was among 164 Democratic congressmen who co-sponsored the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2018,” a bill that was introduced into the U.S. House on February 26.
“Semi-automatic assault weapons like the AR-15 are designed to rapidly kill mass numbers of people,” Clay said in a statement. “They are weapons of war and have no reasonable purpose in civilian society.”
Clay’s sentiment echoes the cry of students in Parkland, Fl. following the school massacre on February 14 that left 17 students and teachers dead. The Stoneman Douglas High students’ #NeverAgain hashtag has gone viral, and the movement aims to to “vote out” elected officials who oppose a ban.
The bill, which is authored by U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Ted Deutch (D-FL), would ban the manufacture and importation of certain semi-automatic weapons and the large ammunition clips which allow shooters to commit mass killings.
The ban would prohibit the sale, transfer, production and importation of:
- Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
- Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
- Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
- Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
- And 205 specifically-named and listed firearms.
“Americans don’t own tanks or missiles,” said Deutch, “so why should our streets be flooded with weapons of war made for the sole purpose of killing people? The Stoneman Douglas community is still reeling from this awful tragedy. But they want and deserve action from Congress.”
At the CNN town hall meeting shortly after the school shooting, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) told the crowd that he didn’t support Deutch’s then-proposed assault weapons ban because it would only impact 200 models of guns, missing more than 2,000 models with similar capabilities. To this critique, Clay said, “We have to start somewhere.”
Deutch said that banning assault weapons isn’t an idea that comes from the Democratic Party.
“President Reagan supported the initial ban (in 1994), which expired in 2004,” Deutch said. “Most Americans support the assault weapons ban. Now it’s time for Congress to listen and pass sensible legislation to get these weapons of war off our streets.”
When the St. Louis American asked Clay if he think the legislation could pass, Clay said he’s not sure if the Republican leadership in the House and Senate will even bring it up for debate.
“I hope the legislation will pass,” Clay said. “I think the president realizes that we have to go further than what the NRA has recommended to their robots in Congress.”
Many of the Parkland students have targeted their anger at the National Rifle Association (NRA) for their multi-million dollar political contributions to Republican elected officials who support loose gun laws. Clay agrees with this critic.
“They are the problem because they have bought off a majority of Congress,” Slay said, “and that is why I am why I’m part of this bill to say that you will no longer dictate what is common sense gun legislation in this country.”
Clay also said he is proud of earning a “zero rating” from the NRA.
He said, “I’ve never taken a dime from the NRA in my 35 years in public service.”
Clay said the bill is also designed to reduce the deadly threat to local law enforcement, who too often face military-style assault weapons fire in the line of duty.
“We also know that taking these assault weapons off the street makes our communities safer,” he said.
After the previous assault weapons ban was allowed to expire in 2004, the number of mass shootings increased 183 percent and the number of deaths in such attacks rose 239 percent, Clay said.
“No one law can end all gun violence or prevent every gun-related tragedy,” Clay said. “But Congress has the power to save American lives and we must do so now, without delay.”
