Federal Assault Weapons Ban

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban, enacted in 1994 and expired in 2004, was legislation that prohibited the manufacture and sale of certain semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. The goal was to reduce gun violence by limiting access to firearms often used in mass shootings. The law classified specific firearms based on features and magazines holding more than ten rounds. While it didn’t completely eliminate such weapons, it aimed to restrict their availability during its enforcement period. The ban was not renewed, and debates continue about its effectiveness and whether similar restrictions should be reinstated.