The National Rifle Association (NRA) didn’t pull any punches in its fiery retort to Vice President Kamala Harris’ assertion that President Biden plans to ban “assault weapons.” Harris had taken to Twitter to express her confidence in Biden’s ability to take on the NRA, prompting the NRA to provide an exclusive response to Fox News Digital, delivering a lesson on the history of Biden’s previous attempts to ban these firearms.
NRA spokesperson Billy McLaughlin hit back with a sharp critique, suggesting, “Vice President Harris should brush up on history before posting on social media. She’s pointing to Biden’s 1994 vote for the ‘assault weapons’ ban as his supposed major victory. However, thanks to the NRA’s efforts, the ban expired in 2004, and AR-15 ownership surged from 850,000 to 25 million.”
Harris’ tweet had emphasized Biden’s 1994 vote to prohibit semi-automatic firearms, a decision made during his time as a Delaware senator. The House, under Democrat majority, passed the ban as a separate legislation, which was later integrated into a broader anti-crime package, requiring exceptions and a predetermined expiration.
The legislation was eventually passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Bill Clinton in 1994. It enforced a decade-long prohibition on “semiautomatic assault weapons” and “large capacity ammunition feeding devices.”
The NRA underscored that the law didn’t yield significant results, pointing to a 1999 Department of Justice study that found no notable reduction in gun-related homicides due to the ban. Another DOJ study in 2004 suggested that the ban’s impact on gun violence was marginal at best.
While Democrats, including Biden, continue to hail the legislation as effective against mass shootings, the NRA countered by highlighting the popularity of the AR-15, often classified as an “assault weapon” by liberals. The NRA labeled the AR-15 as “America’s leading self-defense rifle,” citing instances where law-abiding citizens have relied on it for protection.
The NRA accused the Biden administration of prioritizing “pro-criminal policies,” asserting that their stance on gun control pushes citizens to arm themselves for self-defense.
As the debate rages on, the NRA delivered a pointed conclusion: “Then again, maybe the President hesitates to enforce gun laws due to issues closer to home.”