Latest News About Assault Weapons Ban Of 2013

Here’s a concise update on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 and related developments as of now.

Direct answer

• There is no active federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) in effect in the United States today. The federal ban that existed from 1994 to 2004 expired in 2004, and attempts to reintroduce a nationwide ban have not been enacted into law since then. A 2013 Senate proposal, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, was introduced but defeated in the Senate in April 2013, so it did not become law.[2][3][4][8]

Key context

• State-level actions surrounding assault weapons vary. Some states have enacted their own bans or stricter controls, while others maintain more permissive laws. A notable example is Maryland's 2013 law banning certain assault weapons, which faced ongoing legal challenges; in 2024, a federal appeals court upheld Maryland’s 2013 ban, reflecting continued state-level restrictions despite the expiration of the federal ban. The 4th Circuit’s decision referenced Bruen’s framework but concluded Maryland’s law remains valid under its interpretation of permissible firearm regulation.[1]
• Public and political discourse around AWBs has persisted, with multiple stakeholders advocating for reinstating a nationwide ban or enhancing related gun-safety measures. In late 2024 and into 2025, there were renewed efforts by some lawmakers to reintroduce federal legislation, but no law has been enacted as of 2025–2026.[6]

What this means for you

• If you’re researching current gun law, focus on:
  • Federal status: no nationwide AWB enacted since the 1994–2004 period.
  • State-level laws: vary by state; some have strong bans or magazine limits (e.g., Maryland) while others do not.
  • Legal developments: court decisions continue to shape how older and newer restrictions survive or adapt to recent Supreme Court rulings.

Illustrative examples

• The 2013 federal AWB (S.150) proposed after Sandy Hook was defeated in the Senate, so it did not become law.[2]
• Maryland’s 2013 ban on assault weapons remained a central test case, with the Fourth Circuit upholding the law in 2024, reinforcing state-level regulation despite broader federal debates.[1]

Citations

• The 2013 proposal and its defeat are described in contemporaneous reports and summaries, including coverage of the Senate vote and related political discussions.[3][2]
• The expiration of the federal ban and the ongoing state-by-state landscape are documented in summaries of federal firearm legislation and state statutes, as well as recent court rulings upholding state bans.[8][1]

If you’d like, I can pull up the latest state-by-state summaries or summarize recent court rulings in a tabular format for quick reference.