Brady Statement on Assault Weapons Ban Discharge Petition

Washington, D.C., June 13, 2023 – Today, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) introduced a discharge petition on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023. Brady, which helped craft the original 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, released the following statement:

Kris Brown, president of Brady, said:

“As we’ve seen time and time again, assault weapons have no place in our communities. These weapons of war are designed for one purpose – to kill as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time, which is why they’re the preferred weapon of mass murderers.

“Since the Assault Weapons Ban was introduced in the House in February, we’ve seen the devastating and deadly effects these weapons have on our communities, including at a mall in Allen, Texas, a bank in Louisville, Ky, and a school in Nashville, Tenn. We cannot wait any longer to act, and a discharge petition is the only way to force the House to take up this live-saving legislation.

“We urge the House to abandon partisan gridlock, vote on this bill, and listen to the will of the American people, who overwhelmingly support a ban on assault weapons.”

Assault weapon facts and statistics:

• In shootings where assault weapons or large-capacity magazines are used, 155% more people are shot and 47% more people are killed;

• In the decade after the original ban expired, over 300 people were killed in 34 mass shootings, representing a 183% increase in massacres and a 239% increase in fatalities;

• As of 2020, there were 20 million AR-style firearms in the U.S.