Calif. Assembly Urges Congress To Ban Assault Weapons
SACRAMENTO (AP) — The state Assembly has passed a resolution urging Congress to revive a federal ban on assault weapons in the wake of recent mass shootings.
The resolution passed Wednesday on 50-24 vote, without Republican support. It was introduced in early August by Democratic Assemblyman Mike Feuer of Los Angeles, weeks after a July 20 shooting in a Colorado theater that left 12 dead and 58 injured.
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban passed in 1994 but expired in 2004 after lawmakers did not reauthorize it. The resolutions supporters' credit the ban for a drop in crime involving assault weapons.
Opponents say a ban would restrict firearms used for legitimate reasons. Resolutions merely state a legislative chamber's intent.
California is among several states with laws banning certain assault weapons.
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