Senate Republicans Block Reauthorization of Federal Assault Weapons Ban

The move comes amid a record year for mass shootings in the U.S., sparking a heated debate on gun control measures.

Senate Republicans, led by Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, blocked legislation that would have reauthorized the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which covers certain semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines.
The move came on the same day as an active shooting incident in Nevada and in a year that has seen a record number of mass shootings in the United States.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California introduced the legislation, known as S.25, which bans the sale or transfer of the semi-automatic firearms listed or described, but allows current owners to keep them.
Barrasso argued that the proposed ban was 'unjustified and unconstitutional', and would criminalize many law-abiding citizens.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who put the motion forward, criticized Barrasso for blocking the bill, stating that a ban on military-style assault weapons saves lives.