Washington (January 9, 2019) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today joined Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) and 26 of his colleagues in introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, updated legislation to ban the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

“The time to reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban is years and lives past due,” said Senator Markey. “Too many innocent Americans have been gunned down because these weapons are available and on our streets. Assault weapons are meant for combat, not communities. Today, my thoughts and prayers are with Congressional Republicans, who I hope will finally throw off the vise-like grip of the NRA and support this commonsense legislation.”

In addition to Senator Markey, co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

Senator Markey also recently helped introduce the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to the sale or transfer of all firearms. The requirement extends to all unlicensed sellers, whether they do business online, at gun shows, or out of their home.

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