Issue Position: Gun Violence Prevention

Issue Position

Uphold the Second Amendment
I also strongly support the rights of gun owners, the vast majority of whom have never committed a crime and understand the responsibilities that go along with gun ownership. Every step taken to reduce gun violence must be constitutional and in accordance with the Second Amendment's guarantee of an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Require Background Checks
Oregon has already closed the gun show loophole, but as a nation we can do more. A national policy to require a background check for every gun sale will help stop criminals from getting weapons they are not legally allowed to purchase. The best data we have suggests that more than a third of gun purchases are made without a background check.

Limit Gun Magazine Sizes
I support a ban on future sales of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The shooter at Newtown fired between 50 and 100 rounds, and one child was shot 11 times. The shooter in Aurora came equipped with a 100-round drum magazine. As a parent you hope for any break in the spray of gunfire that might allow a hero to save your child's life.

Ban Military Style Assault Weapons
The shootings in Newtown, Clackamas, and Aurora all involved the use of weapons that would have been illegal under the Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. There were problems with the 1994 law, but in principle I support efforts to stop future sales of military-style assault weapons. These guns and the ammunition they carry are designed for one thing: killing a lot of people very quickly. They don't belong on our streets.

Help Protect Schools
Security experts should be assessing all of our schools and helping develop emergency management plans. Unfortunately, most school budgets are already strained. By creating a funding stream dedicated to emergency planning, we can prevent schools from having to choose between safety and learning.

Source