Each year, over 39,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence (CDC, 2020). Gun violence-related deaths are composed of 61% suicides, 36% homicides, 0.8% undetermined intent, 1.3% unintentional shootings, and 1.4% police shootings. Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines have repeatedly been used to commit some of the worst mass shootings in modern U.S. history, and they contribute to the daily toll of gun violence in communities around the country. They are weapons of war that have no place in civilian society. Congress must enact a federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines to keep these dangerous weapons out of U.S. communities.

To make the much-needed changes, we are proposing the following gun control actions:

• Mandate all US states and territories to require universal background checks (Look for documented mental illnesses, age, drug use, violence [physical and verbal] of any kind).

• Abolish the production, sale, and ownership of all assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

• Implement a one-year Gun Swap Program to require current assault weapon and high-capacity magazine owners the opportunity to sell or swap out their illegal & dangerous guns back to an authorized collection agency.

• Establish a gun control oversight advisory to ensure that gun control policies are developed and enforced as needed. The oversight committee must include a youth division and have representatives from all communities impacted by gun violence in America.

To find out more about assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, click here!