Huddle Recap - Gun Reform
Everyone wants an end to gun violence. We are all horrified by school shootings, mass shootings, domestic violence, homicides, and suicides. And at the same time, we recognize the need for people to feel safe, and we respect the rights of hunters and sports enthusiasts.
In 2016, the U.S. gun death rate was 10.6 per 100,000 people, far higher than in countries such as Canada (2.1 per 100,000) and Australia (1.0), as well as European nations such as France (2.7), Germany (0.9) and Spain (0.6).
As part of my journey to represent you, I recently held two "huddles" on gun reform to hear your views about the actions you'd like to see Congress take to help solve these most serious problems.
We had some very engaged dialogue about possible courses of action. Our discussions touched on:
The Second Amendment to the Constitution,
Background checks and licensing,
Loopholes in current gun safety laws,
Gun safety, and care and storage of guns,
Licensing and training to own and use guns,
State laws versus national laws,
Open carry laws,
Arming teachers and school resource officers,
Mental health, poverty,
Gun safety technology, and
Red flag laws.
We also focused on the fact that gun violence is taking place all around us every day, and no place is immune. The impact of gun violence extends far beyond these casualties €” gun violence shapes the lives of millions of Americans who witness it, have family members who died or injured, know someone who was shot, or live in fear of the next shooting. We can and must do better.
Many legislative proposals have been introduced in Congress to help solve this terrible problem. No single piece of legislation will suffice, and we must be willing to enact good ideas regardless of which party proposes it. Because it can be difficult to keep track of the many legislative proposals made in Congress, I have summarized below a few bills intended to reduce gun violence in the United States.
HR 8 Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals). Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.
This bill had 232 co-sponsors in the House, from both parties. It passed the House in February 2019, but the Senate has not taken action to date.
For further information, click here.
H.R. 3076, Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019
This bill authorizes and establishes procedures for a family or household member, or law enforcement officer, to request an extreme risk protection order with respect to an individual who poses an imminent risk to themselves or others. An extreme risk protection order is a federal court order that prohibits a person from owning, possessing, receiving, or having control or custody of a firearm. These procedures are similar to "Red Flag Laws" enacted in several states, including Indiana.
This bill was introduced into the House in June 2019, with 100 Democratic cosponsors. It has not yet been voted on by the House. The same bill was introduced in the Senate (S. 2521) in 2018 by two Republican cosponsors, Lindsay Graham and Susan Collins, and two Democratic cosponsors, Margaret Wood Hassan and Claire McCaskill.
For further information, click here and here.
H.R.674 - Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2019
This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct or support research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention.
This bill was introduced to the House in January 2019 by 98 cosponsors, including one Republican cosponsor. A related bill (S. 184) was introduced into the Senate in January 2019. Neither the House nor the Senate versions of the bill have been voted on.
For further information, click here and here.
We need leadership on this issue. We need everyone -- government, business, and individuals -- to work together to resolve this crisis.