Issue Position: Reducing Gun Violence

Issue Position

Gun violence is unfortunately not a rare occurrence in our country. The massacres such as the ones we have witnessed in Newtown, Oak Creek, Aurora and Tucson each shook the nation, and every couple of months there seems to be another tragedy. We all want to see senseless violence end. Regrettably, little action is taken to prevent the next tragedy, even in the aftermath of horrific events.

I believe it is time to enact sensible, responsible gun laws, while still protecting a law-abiding citizens' constitutional right to bear arms. There are reasonable steps that Congress can take to keep the deadliest weapons off our streets and to reduce these instances of violence.

We must also take a comprehensive approach toward violence, investigating its root causes and investing in programs to help prevent crime before it happens. This means making mental-health treatment readily available to those who need it and providing safe places for kids who otherwise might turn to gangs or violence.

I have called on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to unite behind these proposals, and I pledge to do all that I can to ensure that they become law. I believe it is time for Congress and the country to engage in a national conversation about measures that can be taken to enact safe, sensible policy that will help to reduce gun violence while respecting American's Second Amendment rights.

Extending Universal Background Checks

Right now, 40 percent of all gun sales are completed without background checks. We should expand background checks, a measure that will not add any new hurdles to gun ownership but would simply extend to all gun sales the same background checks already in place for retailers. This proposal would help ensure that guns stay out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

Making Gun Trafficking a Federal Crime

It is time we finally enact commonsense legislation that makes gun trafficking a federal crime, which is why I cosponsored the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act that would crack down on straw purchases.

Limiting High-Capacity Magazines

We should limit the sale of high-capacity magazines that allow for dozens of bullets to be fired without having to stop and reload.

Passing an Assault Weapons Ban

Since the original Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004, we've seen a dramatic increase in the number of crimes committed with these weapons. Military-style weapons have no place on our streets, and I--like the overwhelming majority of federal, state and local law enforcement--believe it is time to renew the sensible ban on these weapons.

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