91-489: (Redirected from Assault Weapons Ban ) Assault weapons ban may refer to: Assault weapons legislation in the United States Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 , an unsuccessful legislative bill from April 2013 Federal Assault Weapons Ban , federal U.S. law of 1994 Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 , a California law that bans
182-648: A stay of Benitez's ruling on June 21, 2021, leaving the ban in place as appeals were litigated. Judge Benitez once again ruled that the California ban is unconstitutional after the Ninth Circuit remanded the case back down to the district in light of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen . The case has since been held in abeyance pending the decision of the En Banc Court in 'Duncan v. Bonta' In June 1993, Connecticut became
273-415: A ticket , entered the theater, and sat in the front row. About 20 minutes into the film, he left theater 9 through an emergency exit door beside the movie screen, with direct access to the lightly used parking area at the back of the complex, while propping the door slightly open with a plastic tablecloth holder. There were about 400 people inside theater 9. Holmes went to his car (which he had parked near
364-473: A "generic" definition list to the existing Roberti-Roos legislation; and the exemption to allow on and off duty and retired peace officers the use of assault weapons. They are defined in Penal Code §12276.1 and §30515. The bill was passed and went into effect on January 1, 2000. Shortly after this was passed, a loophole was discovered. Since the law was written by make and model or the number of features,
455-583: A "substantial" donation to Colorado's Community First Foundation to benefit victims. Christopher Nolan , the film's director, spoke on behalf of his cast and crew and called the event "savage" and "devastating". Christian Bale , who plays Batman in the film series, privately visited victims on July 24. Members of the Colorado Rockies baseball team also visited victims. Members of the Denver Broncos also called or visited individuals at
546-617: A Dangerous Weapons Permit by the California Department of Justice. Since the Department of Justice generally does not give Dangerous Weapons Permits to ordinary citizens, the Roberti-Roos Act amounts to an effective ban on defined assault weapons in California. It also banned magazines that it classified as large capacity (those able to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition). Guns and magazines legally owned at
637-566: A capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than ten rounds of ammunition; 2) contains more than seven rounds of ammunition; or 3) is obtained after January 15, 2013 and has a capacity of, or can be readily restored or converted to accept more than seven rounds of ammunition." On April 25, 2023, the state of Washington enacted a law prohibiting the sale, offering for sale, manufacturing, importation, or distribution of certain semi-automatic firearms that it defined as assault weapons. Assault weapons legally possessed before
728-523: A choice to register the guns as assault weapons with the California DOJ or change the configuration. The bill was finalized and passed, then waited for 9 months for the DOJ regulations to enable owners to start the registration process. On the last day of Kamala Harris' tenure, at 2 pm as Attorney General, the laws were updated to include new categories of assault weapons, now including shotguns. This
819-459: A control box in the kitchen and filled with at least 30 US gal (110 L) of gasoline. Neighbors reported loud music from the apartment around midnight on the night of the massacre, and one went to his door to tell him she was calling the police; she said the door seemed to be unlocked, but she chose not to open it. A police official said a Batman mask was found in the apartment. On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from
910-555: A federally licensed gun dealer. The bill also exempts law enforcement agencies and retired law enforcement officers. Defined as an assault weapon is any centerfire semi-automatic rifle with a detachable magazine and one or more of these features: a pistol grip , a forward grip , a folding, telescoping, or detachable stock , a grenade launcher , a barrel shroud , or a threaded barrel . A number of other rifles , shotguns , and pistols are also defined as assault weapons, including some specific makes and models. Additionally,
1001-421: A firearm that while not specifically listed as a banned assault weapon, is either a semi-automatic centerfire rifle, semi-automatic shotgun, or semi-automatic pistol with one or more specific banned cosmetic features. Assault weapons acquired before June 20, 2022 are grandfathered in – that is, they are legal to possess, and to transfer to a family member. Assault weapon legislation has been previously proposed in
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#17327796858661092-502: A large capacity ammunition feeding device as defined in the federal assault weapons ban of 1994. In May 1990, New Jersey became the second state in the U.S. to pass an assault weapons ban, after California. At the time, it was the most restrictive assault weapons ban in the nation. AR-15 semi-automatic rifles are illegal in New Jersey, and owning and publicly carrying other guns require separate licensing processes. Although it
1183-472: A list of specific firearms and combinations of features on semiautomatic firearms. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban enacted in 1994 expired in 2004. Attempts to renew this ban have failed, as have attempts to pass a new ban, such as the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 (AWB 2013). Ten U.S. states have assault weapons bans: three were enacted before the 1994 federal ban, four more were passed before
1274-632: A local law banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois . In refusing to hear the case, the Supreme Court allowed the ruling to stand and the ban to remain in place. In March 1989, the Northwest Indiana cities of Gary and East Chicago city councils passed ordinances prohibiting both sale and possession of assault weapons. Gary City Councilman Vernon G. Smith (D-4th) sponsored
1365-483: A nationally televised speech from Aurora. Many world leaders sent their condolences, including Queen Elizabeth II , French President François Hollande , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , Russian President Vladimir Putin , and Pope Benedict XVI . I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of
1456-664: A needs-assessment process. On November 16, 2012, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund announced that each family of the dead would receive $ 220,000. Holmes' booking photo was released, and he first appeared in court on July 23, 2012. According to press reports, he seemed dazed and largely unaware of his surroundings. On July 30, Colorado prosecutors filed formal charges against Holmes, including 24 counts of first-degree murder , 116 counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of illegal possession of explosives. Two charges were filed for each victim to expand
1547-565: A new sequence in a different setting. In the wake of the shooting, DC Comics delayed the release of Batman Incorporated #3, which includes a scene in which a female Leviathan agent brandishes a handgun in a classroom full of children while disguised as a schoolteacher. Warner Bros. Animation reportedly edited the Cartoon Network series Beware the Batman to make the firearms look less realistic. Hans Zimmer , who composed
1638-432: A pistol grip, a thumbhole stock, a folding or telescoping stock, a forward grip, a flash suppressor, or a grenade launcher. A number of other rifles, shotguns, and pistols are also defined as assault weapons, including some specific makes and models. Not considered assault weapons but similarly restricted are .50 caliber rifles. Maryland law prohibits the possession, sale, transfer, purchase, receipt, or transportation into
1729-404: A pistol. On January 10, 2023, Illinois enacted a law making it illegal to manufacture, deliver, sell, or purchase an assault weapon. Any assault weapons that are already owned by residents are legal to possess if registered with the state police by January 1, 2024. In Illinois assault weapons include any centerfire semi-automatic rifle with a detachable magazine and one or more of these features:
1820-637: A rifle and removed the Bullet Button, making it an illegal configuration. Then went to the San Bernardino Inland Regional Center where they murdered 14 people and injured 22 others. This led to a second, stricter version of the original California assault weapons ban SB880, AKA the Bullet Button Ban. This made previously legal configurations of semi-automatic sporting rifles illegal. The owners were given
1911-448: A sentence enhancement of a crime of violence. The two murder convictions for each death were first-degree murder or attempted murder after deliberation, and first-degree murder or attempted murder with extreme indifference. The sentencing phase began on July 22. On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. However,
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#17327796858662002-457: A shotgun blast to the head and underwent three brain surgeries . He required a feeding tube , had severely impaired movement, and could no longer speak. The Community First Foundation collected more than $ 5 million for a fund for victims and their families. In September, victims and their families received surveys asking about their preferences for how collected funds should be distributed, either by dividing it equally among victims or through
2093-586: A teacher were shot in Stockton California . The gunman used a semi automatic AK-47 firearm ; five children perished. President George H.W. Bush banned all imports of semi automatic rifles in March 1989, and made the ban permanent in July 1989. The assault weapons ban tried to address public concern about mass shootings while limiting the impact on recreational firearms use. In November 1993,
2184-579: A very limited set of circumstances defined in state DOJ regulations. In May 1989, California became the first state in the U.S. to pass an assault weapons law, after the January 1989 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in Stockton. The Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989, or AWCA, restricted semi-automatic firearms that it classified as assault weapons: over 50 specific brands and models of rifles, pistols, and shotguns to those who were issued
2275-414: A violent attack, was covered by physician–patient privilege because it was addressed to his psychiatrist. This made it inadmissible as evidence unless Holmes' mental health became an issue in the case. Prosecutors dropped their request for access to the notebook on September 20, 2012. On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the preliminary hearing,
2366-599: A vote of 217 to 213. Voting in favor of the bill were 215 Democrats and 2 Republicans . Voting against it were 208 Republicans and 5 Democrats. The U.S. Senate has not voted on the bill, as proponents do not have the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster and pass the law. In early 2023, legislation to ban assault weapons was introduced in both the House and Senate, and was cosponsored by an overwhelming majority of Democratic legislators in both cases. Three U.S. states passed assault weapons bans before Congress passed
2457-517: Is mentally ill and they needed more time to assess the nature of his illness. The disclosure was made at a court hearing in Centennial, Colorado , where news media organizations asked a judge to unseal court documents in the case. Prosecutors alleged on August 24, 2012, that Holmes told a classmate he wanted to kill people four months before the shooting. A judge ruled on August 30 that a notebook written by Holmes, in which he allegedly described
2548-885: Is "To regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes." The proposed legislation targets various firearm accessories, including the barrel shroud (a safety covering for the barrel of the firearm to prevent the operator from burning his or her hands as the barrel becomes heated after the firing of multiple rounds), pistol grip , and certain types of firearm stocks such as telescoping or collapsing stocks. Also included are lists of various classes and models of firearms, including semi-automatic firearms , AR-15 style rifles , assault weapons , semi-automatic pistols , semi-automatic shotguns , and others, some of which have already been banned or restricted under existing legislation including grenade launchers . The legislation also proscribes high-capacity magazines . On July 29, 2022,
2639-471: Is commonly referred to as an assault weapons ban, New Jersey's law actually uses the term "assault firearm" to define banned and regulated guns. Among the list of firearms identified as 'assault firearms' are the Colt AR-15, AK variants and all 'M1 Carbine Type' variants. Some New Jersey gun advocates have called its laws "draconian". Attorney Evan Nappen, author of several books on New Jersey gun laws, says
2730-647: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Assault weapons legislation in the United States Assault weapons legislation in the United States refers to bills and laws (active, theoretical, expired, proposed, or failed) that define and restrict or make illegal the manufacture, transfer, and possession of assault weapons . How these firearms are defined and regulated varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; generally, this constitutes
2821-577: Is pending appeal by the California Attorney General. While there are no statewide assault weapon bans in Colorado , local bans exist in certain cities or counties in the state. In addition to state bans, Washington, D.C. , and some U.S. counties and municipalities have assault weapons laws. The 1994 federal and 1989 state ban in California were prompted by the 1989 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in Stockton, California. Over
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2912-542: Is repealed or invalidated. 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting occurred inside a Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado , United States, during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises . Dressed in tactical clothing, 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms. Twelve people were killed, and 70 others were injured, 58 of them from gunfire. Holmes
3003-523: The Columbine High School massacre . Arapahoe County prosecutors said that Holmes was sane during the shooting and intended to kill all 400 people in the theater, while Holmes' lawyers said he had a psychotic episode during the attack. On May 7, an FBI agent displayed pieces of evidence at the trial, including Holmes' body armor, an arsenal of weapons, unfired ammunition, and a helmet with strands of his dyed orange hair. Jurors examined
3094-612: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808). The bill is somewhat similar to the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that was in force from 1994 to 2004. It defines certain semi-automatic firearms as assault weapons , and prohibits their manufacture, sale, transfer, or possession. Existing assault weapons would be grandfathered in – that is, they would be legal to possess, and legal to sell or transfer through
3185-611: The United States House of Representatives in support of banning "semi-automatic assault guns". They cited a 1993 CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll that found 77 percent of Americans supported a ban on the manufacture, sale, and possession of such weapons. Rep. Jack Brooks (D-TX), then chair of the House Judiciary Committee, tried to remove the ban from the crime bill but failed. The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, commonly called
3276-532: The Chicago area have laws that either prohibit or regulate the possession of firearms that they define as assault weapons. These include the city of Chicago and Cook County . On December 7, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to grant a writ of certiorari to take up a challenge brought against a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit which had upheld
3367-511: The Colorado district attorney who prosecuted Holmes said he never called himself The Joker, and blamed the federal officials for the rumor. The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the shooter's car, including another Glock 22 handgun. Holmes was found carrying a first aid kit and spike strips , which he later admitted in an interview he had planned to use if police either shot at or chased him. Following his arrest, Holmes
3458-530: The Legislature. Hawaiian law bans the manufacture, possession, sale or other transfer of what it defines as assault pistols . Hawaii defines an "assault pistol" as a semiautomatic handgun that accepts a detachable magazine and that has two or more of: In tandem with the assault pistol ban is a law that bans the manufacture, possession, sale or other transfer of detachable ammunition magazines with capacities greater than 10 rounds that are capable of use with
3549-540: The Second Amendment." Attorneys general in 21 states and the NRA had asked the Supreme Court to hear the case. Massachusetts law bans the sale, transfer, or possession of assault weapons not otherwise lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994. Massachusetts defines "assault weapon" by the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" in the federal assault weapons ban of 1994. That definition included: In tandem with
3640-419: The United States . Holmes confessed to the shooting but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity . Arapahoe County prosecutors sought the death penalty . The trial began on April 27, 2015. On July 16 of that year, Holmes was convicted of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of possessing explosives. On August 7, the jury deadlocked on whether to impose
3731-405: The apartment. Two days later, residents were allowed to return to the four surrounding buildings, and six days later, residents were allowed to move back into the formerly booby-trapped building. Twelve fatalities were reported along with 70 injuries. Seventy were hit by bullets, and were reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history. This figure
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3822-576: The assault weapons ban is a law that bans the manufacture, sale or other transfer of detachable magazines with capacities greater than 20 rounds. The United States Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to the Maryland ban in November 2017. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond had upheld the ban, stating that: "[A]ssault weapons and large-capacity magazines are not protected by
3913-442: The assault weapons ban is a law that bans the sale, transfer, or possession of a large capacity feeding device unless such device was lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994. The definition of "large capacity feeding device" included: a fixed or detachable magazine, box, drum, feed strip or similar device capable of accepting, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than 5 shotgun shells; or
4004-560: The ban passed the United States Senate . The author of the ban, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and other advocates said that it was a weakened version of the original proposal. In January 1994, Josh Sugarmann , executive director of the Violence Policy Center , said handguns and assault weapons should be banned. In May of that year, former presidents, Gerald Ford , Jimmy Carter , and Ronald Reagan wrote to
4095-425: The ban went into effect are grandfathered in; that is, it is legal for owners to keep them. In Washington, assault weapons include any semi-automatic centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine, and at least one of these features: A number of other rifles, shotguns, and pistols are also defined as assault weapons, including a list of specific makes and models. Some local governments have laws that ban or restrict
4186-553: The beginning of that year. Existing and proposed weapon legislation often come under renewed interest in the wake of major mass shootings , such as the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. In 2018, most Americans who were polled, supported a ban on assault weapons. According to an April 2023 Fox News poll, 61% of Americans are in favor of an assault weapons ban. In January 1989, 34 children and
4277-399: The ceiling and then at the audience. He also fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15 semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine , which eventually malfunctioned. Finally, he fired a .40-caliber Glock 22 Gen4 handgun. He shot first to the back of the room, and then toward people in the aisles. A bullet passed through the wall and hit three people in adjacent theater 8, which
4368-484: The cinema, next to his car, without resistance. Because of his tactical clothing, Holmes was at first mistaken for another police officer. He was described as being calm and "disconnected" during his arrest. Two federal officials said that Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself " The Joker ", although authorities later declined to confirm this. Three days later, at his first court appearance in Centennial, Colorado , Holmes's hair appeared reddish-orange. Later,
4459-610: The death penalty. On August 26, Holmes was given 12 life sentences , one for every person he killed; he also received 3,318 years for the attempted murders of those he wounded and for rigging his apartment with explosives. The shooting occurred in Theater 9 at the Century 16 multiplex (operated by Cinemark Theatres ), located in the Town Center at Aurora shopping mall at 14300 E. Alameda Avenue. Police said that Holmes bought
4550-578: The evidence for thirty minutes. Holmes was represented by the Colorado State Public Defender . On May 26, details of Holmes' notebook, reportedly found in a university mail room addressed to his psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, were entered into evidence at the trial for the first time. The notebook elaborated on Holmes' obsession to kill since ten years prior to the shooting, his dissatisfaction with life and finding work, as well as health issues. It also had details of his planning for
4641-401: The exit door), changed into protective clothing, and retrieved his guns. About 30 minutes into the movie, police say, around 12:30 a.m., he reentered the theater through the exit door. Holmes was dressed in black and wore a gas mask , a load-bearing vest , a ballistic helmet , bullet-resistant leggings , a bullet-resistant throat protector, a groin protector, and tactical gloves. He
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#17327796858664732-594: The federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB and AWB 1994), was enacted in September 1994. The ban, including a ban on high-capacity magazines , became defunct (expired) in September 2004 per a 10-year sunset provision . The proposed bill H.R.4269, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015, was introduced on December 16, 2015, to the 114th United States Congress , sponsored by Representative David N. Cicilline of Rhode Island along with 123 original co-sponsors. It currently has 149 co-sponsors. This legislation states that its purpose
4823-499: The federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994: California in 1989, New Jersey in 1990, and Connecticut in 1993. Four others passed assault weapons bans before AWB 1994 expired in 2004: Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York. California restricts the possession, sale, transfer or import of defined assault weapons to those individuals who possess a Dangerous Weapons Permit issued by the California Department of Justice. In practice, very few Dangerous Weapons Permits are issued, and only under
4914-399: The federal ban expired, and one passed after the federal ban expired. The majority of states (40) have no assault weapons ban, although two, Minnesota and Virginia , have training and background check requirements for purchasers of assault weapons that are stricter than those for ordinary firearms. On June 4, 2021, a federal judge struck down the three-decade-long ban in California, though it
5005-439: The five hospitals treating victims announced they would limit medical bills or forgive them entirely. Ashley Moser, Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother, suffered critical injuries after being shot in the chest. She was rendered a paraplegic . She miscarried a week after the attack. Caleb Medley, the last victim discharged, left University Hospital on September 12. He had serious brain damage and an injury to his right eye from
5096-504: The great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families. —Director Christopher Nolan 's reaction to
5187-465: The hospitals. Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop screening a trailer for the film Gangster Squad , which preceded The Dark Knight Rises screenings in some cities (though not in Aurora), because it contained a scene involving the main characters shooting at a movie theater audience with machine guns. The film's release date was rescheduled to January 2013, and the theater scene was replaced by
5278-538: The items. On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty. On April 1, the prosecution announced it had declined the offer. Arapahoe County district attorney George Brauchler said: "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death." Jury selection started on January 20, 2015. It ended on April 15, 2015. The trial started on April 27, 2015. The jury consisted of 19 women and five men, two of whom had connections to
5369-436: The jurors decided that Holmes did not intend to kill children when he opened fire. On July 27, Holmes' sister stated in her testimony that her brother became withdrawn from the family after they moved from Salinas to San Diego during his early teenage years. On July 28, Holmes' father pleaded for his son's life, stating that he is severely mentally ill. He displayed photos of camping trips and family vacations with Holmes to
5460-410: The jury. On July 30, Holmes' lawyers made a final appeal to the jurors, urging them to consider mental illness in his sentencing despite their rejection of the insanity defense used in the trial. The appeal for clemency was rejected on August 3 under the basis that mitigating factors such as mental illness did not outweigh aggravating factors such as the number of casualties in the massacre. Holmes
5551-468: The last decades, there has been an increase in the use of semi-automatic rifles in mass shootings. At least one rifle was used in about 44% of mass public shootings since the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting . The U.S. suffers the highest death toll from gun violence among high income countries and the 2023 Covenant School shooting , which occurred in March, was the 129th such mass shooting in America since
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#17327796858665642-513: The loophole was that a detachable magazine was allowed, if it required a tool to remove. This led to the creation of the Bullet Button. The Bullet Button is a device that replaced the standard magazine catch on the rifle and prevented the magazine from being released without a small pointed device inserted into the screw hole. Various designs and other versions of Bullet Button type devices were released and used by millions of Californians. In December 2015, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik borrowed
5733-524: The massacre. On July 9, Judge Carlos Samour asked Holmes if he would testify in court, and advised him of his rights to do so. Holmes chose not to testify. By July 10, the prosecution and the defense rested their cases. Closing statements were made on July 14, with formal deliberations beginning the following morning. On July 16, after jury deliberations, Holmes was found guilty of 24 counts of first-degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possessing illegal explosives, and
5824-530: The opening statements of the prosecution, as well as the recorded transcript of his interview with the FBI. At 12:39 a.m., after he began shooting, other victims began to call the Police who arrived within 90 seconds and found three .40-caliber handgun magazines, a shotgun, and a large drum magazine on the floor of the theater. Some people reported the shooting via Twitter or text messaging rather than calling
5915-508: The opportunities for prosecutors to obtain convictions. Colorado State District Court Judge William B. Sylvester, who was the trial judge overseeing the case, placed a gag order on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year at the school. Media organizations challenged the sealing of the court file. On August 9, Holmes' attorneys said he
6006-647: The ordinance making it a crime to possess or sell assault-type weapons. Both of these ordinances were invalidated under statewide pre-emption legislation enacted by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2011. In July 2023, the Indianapolis City-County Council passed an assault weapons ban trigger law , which can only go into effect once the Indiana state preemption law
6097-651: The ownership and transfer of over 50 specific brands and models of firearms See also [ edit ] Overview of gun laws by nation Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Assault weapons ban . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assault_weapons_ban&oldid=1153988682 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Political party disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
6188-509: The police; officers were already at the theater by the time that the tweets were sent. Ambulances were hindered by chaos and congestion in the parking lot, and they were unable to reach the back of the complex where police had pulled the injured out through the emergency exit doors of Theatre 9. Sgt. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers to arrive on the scene, sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars. At about 12:45 a.m., police officer Jason Oviatt apprehended Holmes behind
6279-546: The popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment. Good for both home and battle, the AR-15 is the kind of versatile gun that lies at the intersection of the kinds of firearms protected under District of Columbia v. Heller , 554 U.S. 570 (2008) and United States v Miller , 307 U.S. 174 (1939)." A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued
6370-416: The possession of assault weapons. A Washington, D.C. law banning the possession of assault weapons was upheld by a federal appeals court in 2011. The law that set up Illinois' concealed carry system in 2013 also established state preemption for certain areas of gun law, including restrictions on assault weapons. Laws passed before July 20, 2013, are grandfathered in, and a number of local governments in
6461-411: The proposed law defines magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition as large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and prohibits their manufacture, sale, transfer, or possession. Existing magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds would be legal to possess, but not to sell or transfer. Magazines for .22 caliber rimfire ammunition are not included in the ban. The bill passed the House by
6552-710: The public's first officially sanctioned look at the evidence, due to the gag order. It began on January 7. Prosecutors offered their case as to why the trial should proceed, and defense lawyers argued that it should not. At the conclusion, Judge Sylvester decided there was enough relevant, admissible evidence to proceed to a trial. Also on January 7, lawyers for both sides argued whether to admit four unspecified prescription bottles and immunization records investigators had seized from Holmes' apartment when they searched it in July 2012, considering doctor-patient confidentiality laws. The judge ruled in October that prosecutors could keep
6643-552: The scene and two more were pronounced dead in local hospitals. The people murdered were: Ghawi had survived the Eaton Centre shooting in Toronto that occurred a month prior. The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado , Denver Health Medical Center , The Medical Center of Aurora , Parker Adventist Hospital , Rose Medical Center , Swedish Hospital , and University Hospital . On July 25, three of
6734-474: The shooting, a candlelight vigil was held at the site in Aurora. President Barack Obama ordered flags at government buildings flown at half-staff , in tribute to the victims, until July 25. Both Obama's and Mitt Romney 's campaigns temporarily suspended television advertising in Colorado for the 2012 presidential election . On July 22, President Obama met with victims and local and state officials and gave
6825-402: The shooting, and suffers from schizoaffective disorder . On June 9, three jurors were dismissed from the trial due to concerns of their violating orders not to talk about news reports about the case. In the following week, two additional jurors were dismissed; the first due to emotional problems following the shooting of a family member, the second for recognizing a survivor who was wounded in
6916-480: The shooting, which prosecutors said indicated Holmes premeditated the attack. On May 27, Dr. William Reid, a court-appointed psychiatrist, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane. Reid and another doctor evaluated Holmes in December 2013 and determined that he understood what he was doing. On June 8, a second psychiatrist, Jeffrey Metzner, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane during
7007-412: The state of assault weapons defined as assault pistols and assault long guns. Maryland's definition of an "assault long gun" includes a list of 45 specific firearms or their copies, with certain variations. Maryland's definition of an "assault pistol" includes a list of 15 specific firearms or their copies, with certain variations. Maryland also defines an assault weapon "copycat weapon" as: In tandem with
7098-448: The term is "misapplied and carries with it a pejorative meaning." New York law bans the manufacture, transport, disposal or possession of an assault weapon in the state. It defines an "assault weapon" as: In tandem with the assault weapons ban is a law that bans the manufacture, transport, disposal or possession of a "large capacity ammunition feeding device", defined as: "a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that: 1) has
7189-659: The theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Warner Bros. , the distributor of The Dark Knight Rises , said it was deeply saddened by the shooting. The studio canceled the film's gala premieres in France , Mexico , and Japan , scaled down its marketing campaign in Finland , and decided not to report box office figures for the movie until July 23. Some television advertisements for the film were also canceled. Other major film studios joined Warner Bros. in withholding early box office numbers on July 21. Warner Bros. reportedly made
7280-628: The third U.S. state, after California and New Jersey, to pass an assault weapons ban. In April 2013, four months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Connecticut General Assembly passed new restrictions to the state's existing assault weapons ban. The law was challenged, but a federal judge upheld it and ruled it constitutional. Gun owners said they would appeal. Connecticut prohibits any person from possessing an assault weapon unless
7371-412: The time the law was passed were grandfathered in if registered with the California Department of Justice. In March 1999, State Senator Don Perata introduced Senate Bill 23 (SB 23). The bill had three provisions: to make illegal the manufacture, importation, sale or offer, or to give or lend any large-capacity magazine as defined as having the capacity to accept more than ten rounds; the addition of
7462-613: The weapon was possessed prior to July 1, 1994, and the possessor: Connecticut defines an "assault weapon" as: Connecticut also bans listed makes and models of semiautomatic firearms and copies of those firearms. Grandfather clauses and other exceptions apply, depending. Since June 30, 2022, the production, sale, transfer, receipt, and possession of firearms deemed as assault weapons are prohibited. State law bans numerous specifically named semi-automatic centerfire rifles, semi-automatic shotguns, and semi-automatic pistols. The law also bans "copycat" assault weapons, which are defined as being
7553-418: Was about 5 mi (8 km) north of the cinema. Holmes' apartment complex is limited to University of Colorado Medical Center students, patients, and employees. One day after the shooting, officials disarmed an explosive device that was wired to the apartment's front door, allowing a remote-controlled robot to enter and disable other explosives. The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to
7644-525: Was arrested minutes later in his car outside the cinema. Earlier, he had rigged his apartment with homemade explosives and incendiary devices. These were defused by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad a day after the shooting. Fearing copycat crimes , movie theaters showing the same film across the United States increased their security. Gun sales increased in Colorado, and political debates were generated about gun control in
7735-607: Was initially jailed at the Arapahoe County Detention Center, under suicide watch . The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses of the shooting. Speaking on behalf of himself and FBI agent James Yacone, who was in charge of the investigation, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said he was confident that the shooter acted alone. When apprehended, Holmes told the police that he had booby-trapped his apartment with explosive devices. Police evacuated five buildings surrounding his Aurora residence, which
7826-401: Was listening to a techno radio station, which was playing the song " Becoming Insane " by Infected Mushroom , through a set of headphones so that he could not hear anything from people in the theater. Initially, few in the audience considered Holmes to be a threat. Some witnesses thought he was wearing a costume, like other audience members who had dressed up for the screening. Some believed he
7917-423: Was not surpassed until the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting , which killed 49 people and injured 58 others for a combined total of 107 casualties. Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, while eight others sustained non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the theater. The massacre was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. Ten victims died at
8008-457: Was playing a prank, while others thought he was part of a special effects setup for the film's premiere, or a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management. Holmes reportedly threw one canister towards the left side of the theatre, emitting a gas or smoke, that partially obscured the audience members' vision, made their throats and skin itch, and caused eye irritation. He fired a 12-gauge Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun, first at
8099-533: Was presented as an emergency approval because the deadline was in 3 hrs. On June 5, 2021, federal judge Roger Benitez overturned California's ban in his decision in Miller v. Bonta . He issued a permanent injunction against enforcement of the law but stayed it for 30 days to give state Attorney General Rob Bonta time to appeal. Benitez opened his opinion by stating that "[l]ike the Swiss Army Knife
8190-428: Was screening the same film. Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began, and staff told people in Theater 8 to evacuate. Holmes fired 76 shots in the theater: 6 from the shotgun, 65 from the semi-automatic rifle, and 5 from the .40-caliber handgun. The first phone calls to emergency services via 9-1-1 were made around midnight, prior to his attack, as can be heard in
8281-480: Was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on August 7 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision over sentencing him to death. Formal sentencing began on August 24 and was expected to last for three days. At the end of the hearing on August 26, Samour formally sentenced Holmes to 12 life imprisonment sentences without parole and a maximum of 3,318 additional years on attempted murder and explosives possession convictions. The evening after
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