OpinionBy Larry Keane
The time to behave is now.
I’m introducing the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025. pic.twitter.com/TZu7GTCjvF
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) April 30, 2025
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) changed the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and has picked up the mantle of her gun management legacy with one invoice specifically. He reintroduced the laws she usually sponsored to reinstate the expired federal ban on so-called “assault weapons” as he hopes to as soon as once more prohibit law-abiding Individuals from proudly owning the preferred promoting semiautomatic rifle in America – the Fashionable Sporting Rifle (MSR).
Sen. Schiff launched S. 1531, the Assault Weapon Ban of 2025, and made the announcement by a video he posted to social media. Usurpingly, his claims concerning the earlier federal ban are false. His video message instantly acquired a brutal Group Word, tagging the first-term senator’s message as “incorrect.” Companion laws was additionally launched within the Home of Representatives by Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) as H.R. 3115, with the identical title.
“The declare that the Invoice 31 years in the past held crimes and mass shootings at bay for 10 years is inaccurate. It sundown after 10 years when Congress’s personal analysis proved it had no impact on violent crime dedicated with the rifles it banned,” the be aware corrected. ABC Information reporting was the supply supplied. As well as, Breitbart Information tagged the video message in an article and reminded readers – or extra appropriately, Sen. Schiff, that the Division of Justice’s Nationwide Institute of Justice (NIJ) reported that the ban couldn’t be credited with any discount in crime.
Nonetheless, as is the case with the overwhelming majority of gun management laws backed by nationwide gun management teams and their allies, info don’t matter a lot. Sen. Schiff is gung ho on banning a commonly-owned firearm within the nation, with greater than 30 million MSRs in circulation.
Chilly Water on Capitol Hill
Regardless of Sen. Schiff’s gaslighting concerning the horrors of MSRs, which he falsely labels as “military-style weapons of conflict,” thousands and thousands of Individuals use MSRs for lawful functions day by day, together with for goal observe and leisure capturing, looking and sure – self-defense. Particularly through the previous 5 years all through the coronavirus pandemic and a surge in crime throughout the nation, MSRs have been – and proceed to be – an particularly well-liked selection of firearm for Individuals buying weapons, together with amongst first-time patrons. Again in Washington, D.C., nevertheless, it’s clear Sen. Schiff’s gun management want happily gained’t get very far.
Even mainstream media retailers acknowledge the California senator’s unquestionably unconstitutional gun ban is a pipedream. The Hill described Sen. Schiff’s invoice as “having just about no likelihood of turning into regulation” as a result of the truth that Republicans management the bulk in each the Home and the Senate. Nevertheless, lacking from The Hill’s reporting can be the truth that when Democrats held majorities through the 117th Congress in 2021-2022, the “assault weapons” ban laws didn’t even obtain a vote within the Senate underneath Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), with not even all Democrats supporting the laws.
Bearing Arms’ Tom Knighton famous that in a proper press convention occasion to mark the introduction of his laws, Sen. Schiff was joined by California colleague Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, each Democrats from Connecticut. The group additionally included Rep. McBath and representatives from the main nationwide gun management teams Brady United, Giffords and Newtown Motion Alliance.
Recognition Questioned
Throughout his remarks on the press occasion, Sen. Chris Murphy proclaimed moderately confidently that the American folks have been on their aspect and agreed with their calls for to ban MSRs.
“Not solely is the assault weapons ban the proper factor to do, it’s the favored factor to do,” the senator declared. “Each single yr whenever you go into the sector and ask Individuals what they consider an assault weapons ban… by rising numbers they inform Congress it’s time, its previous time to face up.”
However the numbers once more show the senators don’t have their info right. In truth, developments present the other of what Sen. Murphy surmises.
In line with Gallup, in October 2024, simply 52 p.c of Individuals mentioned they supported a federal ban on co-called “assault weapons.” That quantity was three share factors decrease than respondents mentioned in 2022 and a full 9 factors decrease than in 2019. On the flip aspect, the variety of Individuals vocalizing their opposition to a federal ban has steadily risen – in response to Gallup – by 9 factors over the identical time interval. This development demonstrating the rising reputation of MSRs overlapping the dramatic rise in Individuals who oppose bans has been coated earlier than. In truth, The Reload reported on polling from the Washington Submit/ABC Information (hardly pro-gun media retailers) that present in 2023 a majority of Individuals opposed a federal ban.
Whereas gun management allies in Congress like Sen. Schiff and Rep. McBath proceed to push for unconstitutional gun bans utilizing false knowledge and defective messaging, one factor seems clear. There gained’t be any Congressionally authorised MSR bans taking place anytime quickly. Gun management teams will use smears and scare techniques to fundraise and generate media consideration. The firearm business and Members of Congress who help the Structure and Second Modification rights will proceed utilizing info and knowledge to battle again.
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About The Nationwide Taking pictures Sports activities Basis
NSSF is the commerce affiliation for the firearm business. Its mission is to advertise, defend and protect looking and capturing sports activities. Shaped in 1961, NSSF has a membership of 1000’s of producers, distributors, firearm retailers, capturing ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For extra info, go to nssf.org
