WASHINGTON — The U.S. House approved the Assault Weapons Ban on Friday, a bill that would impose the first ban in decades on semi-automatic weapons. It follows mass shootings in Uvalde and across the country, and members of the Texas delegation voted mostly along party lines.
Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, were the only Texans to buck their party when they voted against the bill, which appears destined to fail in the Senate. The two members were among five House Democrats to oppose the legislation, which narrowly passed on a 217-213 vote.
The bill would ban the importing, manufacturing, selling, transferring or possession of certain types of semi-automatic weapons. It would cover semi-automatic pistols and rifles that accept detachable magazines and have certain types of barrels, grips and stocks.
