Legislation could have prevented the sale of weapons used in San Bernardino
Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 17, 2015. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) yesterday joined 120 House colleagues in cosponsoring Rep. David Cicilline’s (RI-01) legislation to keep assault weapons out of the hands of mass shooters. The Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 would limit the sale, transfer, importation and production of certain new high-capacity assault weapons as well as impose additional safeguards on similar weapons that have already been sold.
“The American people deserve a Congress that does more than just keeping the victims of increasingly-frequent mass shootings in our thoughts and prayers—the American people deserve leadership that acts to keep them safe from these preventable tragedies,” said Congresswoman Duckworth.“We know the terrorists who perpetrated the attack in San Bernardino, the shooter who attacked Planned Parenthood in Colorado and countless other mass shooters who have committed atrocities in movie theaters, elementary schools and campuses across the country should not have been able to purchase the assault weapons they used to commit their crimes. It’s time for federal law to recognize that as well; it’s time for Congress to act to protect Americans.”
Background on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 provided by Rep. Cicilline’s office follows:
The Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 will prohibit the sale, transfer, production, and importation of certain types of semi-automatic and other weapons as well as some accessories. The legislation also sets new standards to close the “Charleston Loophole” – the standard that allows firearms dealers to complete a sale if a buyer’s background check is not completed within three days. Between 2010 and 2014, more than 15,000 gun sales were completed to prohibited individuals because their background check was not completed on time. Individuals prohibited from purchasing a gun include felons, domestic abusers, drug users, and those who have been adjudicated mentally ill.
Under the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015, the background check period is extended to 14 days for the sale or transfer of an existing assault weapon. If it is determined that a gun was sold to a prohibited individual, the FBI will be required to notify federal, state, and local law enforcement so the weapon can be retrieved as quickly as possible and the buyer can be held accountable for violating federal law.
Assault weapons were used in attacks last month in San Bernardino and Colorado Springs. Shooters also used them to commit mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, and a community college in Roseburg, Oregon.
When an assault weapon or a high-capacity magazine is used in a shooting, the number of victims who are killed increases by 63%. There have been almost 50,000 incidents of gun violence in our country this year. More than 12,000 Americans have lost their lives. More than 3,000 children have been killed or injured.
Source: www.duckworth.house.gov
