House Passes H.R. 1808 Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 - TAKE ACTION NOW

On Friday evening, July 29, 2022, the U.S. House passed H.R. 1808, the so-called Assault Weapons Ban of 2022.

The highly partisan vote was 217 to 213. Two Republicans voted in favor, including Chris Jacobs (NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), while five Democrats voted against, including Henry Cuellar (TX), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Kurt Schrader (OR) and Ron Kind (WI).

This is a flagrant infringement of the Constitution, which clearly protects weapons in common use by citizens, including the semi-automatic rifles targeted by this bill.

Theoretically, this bill would now move to the Senate. However, it is unclear whether the Senate will take up this bill or not. But it is important to contact your U.S. Senator and urge them to reject this ill-conceived and unconstitutional bill.

CLICK HERE to contact your Senator

This is how the bill is described on Congress.gov:

This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD).

The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; or (4) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model.

The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD:

• importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments;
• importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and
• possession by a retired law enforcement officer.

The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties.

The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD.

Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture.

The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.