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America holds its breath as House Dems pass assault weapons ban, but Senate test looms

With 2 Republicans voting for the bill and 5 Democrats opposing it might be a problem as the level of GOP opposition will cause a problem

In the wake of rising mass shootings and people complaining about the leniency of gun laws, the House finally passed a historic bill on Friday, July 29, stating the ban on assault weapons for the first time since 2004. The much-needed bill was passed in a largely party-line vote of 217-213, with two Republicans voting for the measure and five Democrats opposing it. President Joe Biden also rushed to the occasion to commend Democrats for passing the bill.

The legislation, announced on Friday, July 29, that the knowing sale, manufacture, transfer, possession, or importation of many types of semi-automatic weapons is criminalized. The legislation, authored by Rep David Cicilline, D-R.I., also criminalized large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. The gun vote, passed 217-213, marks July 29 as the day after nearly three decades where the lawmakers made any efforts to reinstate the long-expired ban on semiautomatic firearms which could help curb gun violence. House Democrats, during the floor debate before Friday's vote, pointed out that mass shootings were only going to rise from here on now and that a ban on assault-style weapons is necessary. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the votes.

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According to NBC News, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "Our nation has watched in unspeakable horror as assault weapons have been used in massacre after massacre in communities across the country. We know that an assault weapons ban can work because it has worked before." With 2 Republicans voting for the bill and 5 Democrats opposing it might be a problem. The level of GOP opposition might cause a hiccup as it won't let the bill pass in the evenly split Senate. There it requires the support of 10 Republicans to defeat a possible filibuster, while it remains unclear whether all 50 Senate Democrats would support the measure or not. One user shared the video of Nancy Pelosi announcing the win, "@TeamPelosi listened to gun violence survivors and concerned Americans and passed an assault weapons ban. She’s the most effective Speaker this nation has ever had. Let’s reward her in November with majorities in both the House and Senate. Join us: Text ELECTIONS to 644-33"

What do people think of the new bill?

Shannon Watts, an American gun violence prevention activist and the founder of Moms Demand Action, was ecstatic with the decision and wrote, "Thank you to every single Republican and Democrat in the House who voted for the assault weapons ban today. Some of you took a risk taking this vote before an election. We see you. And we know we won’t stop gun violence until every lawmaker is on the right side of this issue." Dr Gillian Battino, a Democrat running to be the next State Treasurer of Wisconsin, said, "I applaud the House of Representatives for passing an assault weapons ban. It is crucial that the Senate acts to ban these weapons of war." 

Democrat Jon Kaiman wrote, "I applaud the House of Representatives for passing an assault weapons ban. We need to keep these weapons of war off our streets." Rep. Kim Schrier said, "I just voted for the Assault Weapons Ban. These are high velocity, semi-automatic rifles: weapons of war. They leave our police vulnerable & communities at risk. They are consistently the weapon of choice in mass shootings. There’s no place for weapons of war in our neighborhoods." Rep. Jason Crow tweeted, "HUGE NEWS: the House just passed an assault weapons ban. I used these weapons in war – they don’t belong in our communities. Glad we're building on the momentum of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Now if the Senate GOP won't act, we must #EndTheFilibuster once & for all."

Once again, the people are divided. While some are rejoicing in the decision some are opposing it. For example, Congresswoman Mayra Flores said, "House passes “assault weapons” ban. The ban is also against hunting rifles, shotguns, and handguns. To the far left this was another way of coming after law abiding citizens. This ban is a direct infringement on our 2nd Amendment rights and is why I voted NO!" Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote, "Pelosi’s House is going to allow a vote on an “assault weapons” ban, that won’t pass the Senate, just so Jerry Nadler can have something to campaign on. They don’t care about stopping crime, securing our border, protecting our kids & our wallets, they just care about campaigns." Rep. Claudia Tenney, who voted no, wrote, "Tonight I voted No on H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022. This bill is yet another partisan attack on the Constitutional rights of Americans. I will always defend our #2A rights against the left’s expansive, overreaching, and unconstitutional efforts to undermine them."

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