The nature of gun control and its controversy is nothing new for Americans. Passed by Congress on Sept. 13, 1994, and signed by President Bill Clinton later that day, the Federal Assault Weapons Ban prohibited the manufacturing of 18 specific models of semiautomatic weapons, along with the manufacturing of high-capacity ammunition magazines that could carry more than 10 rounds. The ban had a provision that allowed it to expire in September 2004. Gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America have argued that if this law had been in place during the mass shooting in Newtown, the rifle and handguns Lanza utilized were not on the list of prohibited firearms and would not have prevented such a tragedy (Hartfield).