Feinstein introduced the Federal Assault Weapons Ban , which became law in 1994 and expired in 2004 . In January 2013 , about one month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting , Feinstein , along with Representative Carolyn McCarthy from New York , proposed a bill that would " ban the sale , transfer , manufacturing or importation of 150 specific firearms including semiautomatic rifles or pistols that can be used with a detachable or fixed ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and have specific military-style features , including pistol grips , grenade launchers or rocket launchers " . The bill would have exempted 900 models of guns used for sport and hunting . Feinstein commented on the bill , saying , " The common thread in each of these shootings is the gunman used a semi-automatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition magazines . Military assault weapons only have one purpose , and in my opinion , it 's for the military . " The bill failed on a Senate vote of 60 to 40
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Dianne Feinstein