and we had much fewer mass shootings with these types of weapons during the 10 years it was in effect

I remember people promising us in 2004 that nothing bad is going to happen by not renewing the ban, that it was just cosmetic stuff to make people feel cool. I naively believed it at the time, but that's obviously been proven wrong as these shootings have gotten worse

It took 13 years after Raygun & Brady were shot to even get something like that through and it should have never had a sunset provision.

Luby's Texas shooting in 1991, and another shooting in San Francisco in 1993. Plus a general fear of crime from drugs and gangs led to public support for the law. It was also part of a much larger crime bill.

that started back in the '80s - https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/10/gary-webb-dark-alliance_n_5961748.html

People were not kidding when they told you it was about cosmetics.

why not write more effective laws? The NRA is going to obstruct it anyway so why not do it right?

Before the 1990's, only a few companies made assault rifles in the US, imported AK's were poorly made, and they were all expensive. There just weren't many in circulation.

Then the AWB became law, and suddenly you were a badass if you owned one. The appeal of owning something the government didn't want you to have was incredibly powerful. Gun makers quickly removed the banned features while retaining the gun's functionality, rode their newfound popularity, and sold millions of them. The AWB did nothing to stop their sale; we sold tons of AR's at the sporting goods store I worked in. The only thing that did get a LITTLE bit harder to find we're high-capacity magazines, but used ones were for sale at every gun show.

not alienating swing voters with legislation that has no chance of passing or realizing the desired goal.

and last nights results.

changing. Too ingrained in our culture now.

"assault weapons" is such a nonsensical term.

Because if it's the same as the 1994 definition, it will do jack shit to take even one rifle off gun shelves. Removing flash hiders and bayonet lugs doesn't stop a mass shooting.

The sporting goods store I worked in in 2000 sold a ton of AR-15s while the last AWB was in effect.

I think we could get the bump stock ban easily. While we’re at it, let’s ban exploding targets; there are way too many “100 pounds of Tannerite” videos on YouTube. No bump stock, no Stephen Paddock.

A high-capacity magazine ban is doable if we on the Left can accept 30 rounds is the standard magazine for any AR, AK or any other black gun. Get rid of drum magazines and online ammo sales, and there’s a good chance you have no James Eagan Holmes.

But you’re going to have to do much better than last time to have a real AWB...as pointed out upthread, relying on gun cosmetics is not good when you can just put a different stock on.