Prohibit Assault Weapons

What does it solve?

Assault weapons are exceptionally deadly firearms commonplace in mass shootings. They are generally capable of firing far more bullets, far faster than manual-action hunting rifles. Prohibiting assault weapons can prevent mass shooting injuries and deaths.

Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines Report

Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are frequently used in the violence that plagues our nation. Of all mass shooting incidents between 2009 and 2018, assault weapons accounted for 25% of deaths and 76% of nonfatal injuries. Currently, only seven states and Washington, D.C. prohibit assault weapons.

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Which states prohibit assault weapons?

Assault weapons are not deadlier than other firearms.

Assault weapons are generally high-powered semiautomatic firearms where each round has up to four times the muzzle velocity of a handgun round. This means that each round from an assault weapon inflicts greater damage to the human body than a round from a typical handgun. Assault weapons are generally designed to fire rounds at a greater rate than other firearms, and when combined with high-capacity magazines, they enable a shooter to fire more rounds over a short period.

Assault weapons make shootings more lethal.

Each round fired from an assault weapon has a muzzle energy much higher than a bullet fired from a handgun—up to four times greater. This means that each round of an assault weapon inflicts greater damage to the human body than a round from a typical handgun—and these guns can fire many of these high-powered rounds extremely fast. Assault weapons are generally manufactured to fire rounds at a greater speed than other guns and when combined with high-capacity magazines, they enable a shooter to fire more rounds over a short period.

These guns are often used in mass shootings and recovered at crime scenes, but research shows a prohibition on assault weapons can prevent mass shooting fatalities and active shooter events. A study comparing the period during the federal assault weapons prohibition (1994-2004) to the 13 years before and after the prohibition estimated that a prohibition would have prevented 314 of 448 mass shooting deaths that occurred during the studied periods when the prohibition was not in effect. Another study found state assault weapons prohibitions are associated with a lower likelihood of an active shooter event. Lawmakers should act urgently to prohibit these excessively dangerous firearms.

By the numbers

70%

Researchers estimate that if we still had a federal Assault Weapon Ban, we’d see 70 percent fewer mass shootings deaths.

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25%

Mass shootings that involved an assault weapon account for 25 percent of all mass shootings deaths and more than three-quarters of all injuries in mass shootings with four or more people killed.

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76%

Mass shootings that involved an assault weapon account for 76 percent of nonfatal injuries in mass shootings with four or more people killed.

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When assault weapons are used in mass shootings with four or more people killed, 5x as many people are shot.

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What does it solve?

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

California has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Colorado has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Connecticut has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Delaware has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Florida has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Illinois has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Maine has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Maryland has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Minnesota has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Montana has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

New York has adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

North Carolina has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Oregon has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy

Assault Weapons Prohibited