Issue Position: Reducing Gun Violence

Issue Position

Our country is in need of common sense legislation that prevents gun violence. While I will continue to protect the Second Amendment rights of marksmen like myself, there are immediate steps we can take that will ensure the safety of our children, military installations and communities.

My first State of the Union guest was Denise Reed, the mother of Starkesia Reed and an advocate against gun violence. Starkesia Reed was a fourteen-year-old honor roll student who was killed by a stray bullet from an AK-47 near her home in Chicago. Denise Reed is a founding member of Purpose Over Pain, an organization committed to the relentless pursuit of solutions to gun violence. I am inspired by Denise Reed's courage in sharing her story and was honored to have her as my guest.

I have supported gun buy-back events at local parishes throughout the 8th District. It is important to me that guns stay in the hands of responsible individuals.

We must have universal background checks for gun purchases. Carrying a gun is a serious responsibility and we need penalties for those who steal guns or illegally purchase them for others. I believe that Congress should pass legislation that makes gun trafficking a federal crime and strengthens penalties for straw purchasers.

In addition, we need to limit access to weapons that can kill a large number of people in just a few seconds. I am a cosponsor of legislation that bans the sale or transfer of ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds. While any proposed legislation must specifically define these weapons, the Supreme Court has made it clear that reasonable limitations are fully consistent with the Second Amendment.

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