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1 1 (August 4, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govejby0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congre &conaI Resedrch Ser/c< hnorming Ahej lgs ive debate s 'ne 1914 Updated August 4, 2022 House-Passed Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808) On July 29, 2022, the House passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808) by a recorded vote, 217-213 (Roll no. 410). This bill would prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of certain firearms classified as semiautomatic assault weapons (SAWs). It would also ban large capacity ammunition feeding devices (LCAFDs), or magazines and other devices that can hold and/or feed more than 15 rounds of ammunition into a firearm. Supporters of the bill believe that it may curtail the availability of firearms and devices that have contributed to the deadliness of recent mass public shootings, particularly AR-15-type rifles. Opponents of the bill maintain that AR- 15 rifles are functionally no deadlier than other semiautomatic rifles. Semiautomatic v. Full Auto Self-loading firearms come in two variants: semiautomatic and fully automatic. Semiautomatic firearms redirect some of the energy of a fired round of ammunition to eject a spent casing and chamber a fresh round. Semiautomatic firearms can be fired continuously, but only shoot one round per trigger pull. They are not machineguns, which are fully automatic and fire multiple rounds while the trigger is pulled back until the available ammunition is spent or the trigger is released. All modern firearms capable of firing self-contained, fixed ammunition (casing, primer, propellant, and projectile(s)) are regulated under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA, 18 U.S.C. §§921 et seq.). Semiautomatic firearms are generally regulated under the GCA. Machineguns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns (some of which are semiautomatic), as well as smoothbore handguns are further regulated under the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA; 26 U.S.C. §§5801 et seq.). What Are Assault Weapons? According to many firearms experts, assault rifles were developed during World War II to provide a lighter infantry shoulder arm that could fire more rounds, more rapidly, and more easily. To increase capacity of fire, detachable, self- feeding magazines were incorporated into these rifles. Many were configured with a select fire feature that allowed them to be fired in fully automatic mode, in short bursts (such as three rounds per pull of the trigger), or in semiautomatic mode (one round per pull of the trigger). Mid-size rifle cartridges were adopted, so more ammunition could be carried, and the ammunition loads would be lighter. Mid-size rifle rounds reduce the recoil or kick, making such rifles easier to handle and keep on target. Ease of handling was further enhanced by gas-operated actions that redirect gases of a fired round from a barrel port, back through a tube, and into the firearm receiver and action, activating the bolt carrier and trigger assemblies. Hence, it makes the firearm action more efficient and reduces muzzle climb. Some gun experts argue that all true assault weapons are at least fully automatic-that is, machineguns. The two semiautomatic firearms most widely available to the American public that could be considered variants of military-issued assault weapons would be the Armalite (AR) and Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK) rifles. AR-type firearms are most often chambered for 5.56x45mm cartridges, a small caliber, high velocity round that was based on a civilian cartridge, .223 Remington. It is notable that the AR-15 is modular in design and can be outfitted with upper receivers and barrels that can accommodate a wider variety of cartridges, from .22 long rifle to .308 Winchester. AK-type firearms are generally chambered for 7.62x39mm cartridges, the round normally associated with AK-47s. In response to the American 5.56x45mm cartridge, the Soviet Union developed a comparable small caliber, high velocity cartridge, 5.45x39mm. In fully automatic fire, an AR-15 firearm in the hands of a well-trained shooter has an effective firing rate of 100 to 150 shots-per-minute (spin), and in semiautomatic fire, 45 to 65 spin. In full automatic fire, an AK-47 has an effective firing rate of 100 spin, and in semiautomatic fire, 40 spin. The Soviets also produced an AK-type firearm chambered for 12 gauge shot shells, a shotgun known as the Saiga. Expired I 994.2OO4 SAW-LCAFD Ban v. H.R. 1808 Under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322), Congress enacted a 10-year ban on the possession, transfer, and further domestic manufacture of SAWs and LCAFDs. Under the now-expired ban, SAWs were defined in two ways. First, certain firearms, or copies or duplicates of those firearms in any caliber, were defined as SAWs by make (in most cases) and model (e.g., the Colt AR-15 rifle, INTRATEC TEC-9 pistol, or revolving cylinder shotguns similar to the Street Sweeper). Second, other firearms were defined as SAWs if they included any two of several specified characteristics. For example, a rifle met the SAW definition if it was able to accept a detachable magazine and included two or more of the following five features: (1) a folding or telescoping stock; (2) a pistol grip that protruded conspicuously below the action of the firearm; (3) a bayonet mount; (4) a muzzle flash suppressor or threaded barrel capable of accepting such a suppressor; or (5) a grenade launcher. There were similar definitions for pistols and shotguns classified as SAWs. The expired LCAFD ban also prohibited detachable magazines with a capacity to hold more than 10 rounds. SAWs and LCAFDs that were legally possessed prior to the date of enactment were exempted from the ban and remained legally transferrable under applicable federal and state laws. Arguably, however, the U.S. firearms industry quickly adapted by removing the requisite number of offending