In response to a string of mass shootings this year, House Democrats on Friday passed a historic bill to outlaw assault weapons in the US. This was a significant win for the left after party leaders were unable to secure support for a larger package of public safety bills that were also up for floor action.
The vote on guns, which was approved 217 to 113, represents the first attempt in over three decades by legislators to reimpose the long-since-expired ban on semiautomatic weapons, a top party aim. The vote was hailed “a significant milestone in our continuous fight against the tragic scourge of gun violence in our society” by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who made the announcement Friday morning.
Just hours before the chamber was scheduled to adjourn for a month, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, announced the last-minute vote on Friday morning.
The bill was approved 217 to 213 in favor. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Chris Jacobs of New York, both Republicans, cast yes votes for the legislation.
House Democrats on Friday passed a historic bill to outlaw assault weapons in the US. Despite passing the House, it is unclear that the bill will move forward in the Senate because Democrats would need at least 10 Republican votes to end the filibuster.
Following the House’s passage of the assault weapons prohibition, President Joe Biden issued a statement urging the Senate to move swiftly.
“The majority of the American people agree with this common sense action. The should Senate move quickly to get this bill to my desk, and I will not stop fighting until it does,” Biden said in the statement.
“There can be no greater responsibility than to do all we can to ensure the safety of our families, our children, our homes, our communities, and our nation.”
President Joe Biden
