By allowing killers to rapidly and repeatedly fire bullets at their human targets without stopping to reload, assault weapons are designed for maximum bloodshed.

The question becomes, why such large-capacity magazines on these assault weapons and assault rifles, if we are talking about hunting?

The time of the gentleman has expired.

Let's just, for purpose of this hearing, call them weapons of mass destruction, because there are three officers in Baton Rouge whose families will never see them again.

This is why I support a national ban on assault weapons.

Simply put, civilian assault weapons are just semi-automatic versions of military weapons.

We must take a comprehensive approach to solving the national crisis of gun violence, an issue that for too long has been ignored by national leaders.

This is one reason I support a national ban on assault weapons.

If we are serious about honoring and thanking our brave first responders, the best thing we can do is make sure they are never put in this situation again.

I'm here on behalf of the citizens of Dayton to ask you to keep weapons like this off of our streets. I'm here to ask you to do something.

The crisis of gun violence in our country necessitates a sustained, coordinated, and collaborative effort involving citizens, elected officials, law enforcement, and the entire criminal justice system.

NOBLE is very concerned about the level of gun violence in the United States, and specifically the correlation between violence and the proliferation of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

NOBLE supported the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act or Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) of 1994 and the Federal Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2004.

During the 1994 ban, people got around the ban by various means.

It is our organization's opinion that violence--particularly gun violence is a public health issue.

We need a nationwide law that comprehensively addresses this danger to our communities, and we have no time to waste.

assault weapons have become the favorite weapon for many mass murderers.

If we just take my district, since I have been in Congress, I have lost five officers who were overpowered by perpetrators because they were better-armed than my police officers.