Swalwell Applauds Introduction of Assault Weapons Ban in House

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) applauded the introduction in the House of the Assault Weapons Ban, of which he is an original cosponsor, to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices. Swalwell agreed to cosponsor the bill in December and has been working since then at the request of its House sponsor, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), to encourage fellow new Members of Congress to lend their support as well.

"California already has an assault weapons and high-capacity feeding device ban, and so this bill is only asking the rest of the country to do what California has already done," said Swalwell. "I'm proud to cosponsor this gun safety legislation and am grateful for the trust Congresswoman McCarthy placed in me by asking me to encourage other new Members of the House to cosponsor it as well."

"The fight to reduce gun violence is not an easy one and it's so helpful to have a partner like Congressman Swalwell in the movement – he's hit the ground running and I'm grateful that he's taking such active initiative in helping to organize our colleagues and pass sensible legislation," said McCarthy.

The companion bill to this House legislation was introduced in the Senate last Thursday by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). There were 52 original cosponsors of the House bill, including nine new Members.

Below is Swalwell's full statement on cosponsoring the Assault Weapons Ban:

"As a prosecutor I saw first-hand the damage that can be done with military-style weapons in the hands of killers. The tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a horrific example for the entire country of the carnage that assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices can inflict. Banning these assault weapons and large-capacity feeding devices is not the only solution. But, it's a start and will pioneer more comprehensive legislation totackle the alarming rate of gun violence in America. California already has an assault weapons and high-capacity feeding device ban, and so this bill is only asking the rest of the country to do what California has already done. We owe it to the young victims of Sandy Hook and all those who have suffered as a result of these weapons of mass murder to act now, with this first important step, to make our communities safer.

"I'm heartened that many people, on all sides of the political spectrum, are saying that now is the time to ban dangerous assault weapons and large-capacity feeding devices from our streets. Legislation to do just that has been introduced today in the House, and I want to applaud the hard work of its sponsors, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York.

"I'm proud to cosponsor this gun safety legislation and am grateful for the trust Congresswoman McCarthy placed in me by asking me to encourage other new Members of the House to cosponsor it aswell. I've been working diligently to build support for it and I'll continue to do so throughout this Congress until the bill is passed."

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