How did the 94 bill get passed? I cant remember.
The "assault weapons" ban was an amendment to the 1994 crime bill. It wasn't filibustered in the Senate and passed with bipartisan support 56-43, with 10 Republicans voting in favor (and 9 Democrats, mostly from the South, opposed). Sausage-making at its finest, resulting in the wave midterm election of 1994 that gave Republicans control of the House for the first time in 42 years.
Obviously, the Congress is much more polarized now.
What about the nfa 86?
FOPA 1986 was introduced by a Republican from Idaho and endorsed by the NRA.