The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 ineffectively addresses violent crime and punishes law-abiding citizens

West Bend, WI - The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which is one of the fastest-growing organizations in the country representing responsibly armed Americans, released the following statement on the House passage of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022:

“The fundamental, natural-born right to defend yourself and your family should not be subject to what the federal government deems ‘acceptable’ for private civilian use,” said USCCA President and Founder Tim Schmidt. “The arbitrary label ‘assault weapon’ was created and perpetuated by anti-gun politicians and the media. Guns are inanimate objects and do not possess the ability to hurt people on their own.”

Advocating on behalf of all responsibly armed Americans and its 670,000 Members nationwide, the USCCA carefully reviewed all elements of the proposed legislation, HR 1808, and its potential impact on gun owners. With the rushed approach, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 provides an ineffective solution to increasing violent crime in our cities. This bill continues the government's fixation on controlling the tool and is a clear and egregious violation of our Second Amendment rights. The firearms this bill makes illegal are commonly used by millions of law-abiding gun owners.

“New gun laws and restrictions do not make people safer — firearms training and legislation, like national concealed carry reciprocity, make people safer. We continue to urge Congress to protect, not penalize, law-abiding gun owners,” Schmidt concluded.

The bill’s attempt to prohibit the AR platform strips Americans of the right to access one of the most popular and effective firearms for self-defense in America today, especially for the most vulnerable individuals in our communities who have a physical disadvantage to their attacker. The legislation comes as communities are experiencing continued surges in violent crime. More Americans than ever have chosen to prioritize personal safety and become their family’s first line of defense. The House of Representatives passed this bill 217-213, with both Republicans and Democrats joining in opposition.