See How Your Politicians Voted
Title: Prohibits the Sale of Assault Weapons
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment to S 649 that prohibits the import, sale, manufacture and possession of assault weapons.
Highlights:
- Prohibits an individual from importing, selling, manufacturing, transferring, or possessing a “semiautomatic assault weapon” (Sec. 403).
- Defines a “semiautomatic assault weapon” as a type of firearm including, but not limited to, the following characteristics (Sec. 402):
- a semiautomatic rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds;
- a semiautomatic pistol that can accept a detachable magazine;
- a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm;
- all AK and AK-47 types;
- all AR types;
- all Thompson rifles; and
- all UZI types.
- Prohibits an individual from importing, selling, manufacturing, transferring, or possessing a “large capacity ammunition feeding device” (Sec. 403).
- Defines “large capacity ammunition feeding device” as a magazine, belt, drum, or feed strip that has an overall capacity of or can be converted to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition (Sec. 403).
- Exempts certain entities and individuals from the provisions of this bill, including, but not limited to the following (Sec. 403):
- A department or agency of the United States;
- A department, agency, or political subdivision of a state;
- A qualified law enforcement officer employed by the United States or a state; and
- An individual who retired in good standing with from law enforcement and is not otherwise prohibited from receiving a firearm.
- Exempts certain categories of firearms from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 403):
- semiautomatic assault weapons and magazines that were legally owned before the enactment of the bill;
- firearms used for hunting and sporting activities.
- Requires the Attorney General to instruct the Director of the National Institutes of Justice to conduct a study of incidents of mass shootings in the United States, examining issues including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 406):
- Childhood abuse and bullying;
- Exposure to criminal acts;
- Mental Illness;
- The effectiveness and availability of mental health resources;
- The availability of firearms; and
- Depictions of violence in video games and entertainment.
- Requires the director to submit to Congress the results of the study no later than 1 year after the study begins (Sec. 406).