The ten - year ban was passed by the U.S. Congress on September 13, 1994, following a close 52 -- 48 vote in the Senate, and signed into law by then President Bill Clinton the same day. The ban only applied to weapons manufactured after the date of the ban 's enactment, and it expired on September 13, 2004, in accordance with its sunset provision.
when was the last assault weapons ban lifted
September 13, 2004