Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1181, a bill which makes it harder to catch criminals and makes our communities less safe.

Today, under current law, financial institutions are required to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement. They do this every day, and that helps catch human traffickers. These alerts give law enforcement leads that uncover human trafficking rings and evidence that help put these bad guys away.

The bill on the floor today blocks States from using this same process to flag suspicious firearms transactions to uncover gun trafficking rings.

Many gun traffickers don't buy guns like responsible gun owners, and once guns are trafficked, we know bad things happen.

Approximately 60 percent of trafficked guns are delivered to convicted felons. The felons who seek out and obtain trafficked firearms are the people who pose the greatest risk to everyone's safety.

Mr. Speaker, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, for teenagers, and for law enforcement in the line of duty. We should be working to break up gun trafficking rings which supply the guns that kill kids and cops.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

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