January 5, 2016

Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada's First District issued a statement on President Barack Obama’s executive actions to reduce gun violence and make communities safer.

“I applaud the President for taking this long overdue action,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Now it’s time for Congress to pass common sense background check legislation to help address the epidemic of gun violence that continues to sweep across our nation.”

Facts:

The executive actions announced by the President today will make significant progress in the ongoing struggle to curb gun violence:

·         Toughening background checks nationwide:  The President’s executive actions provide new guidance on existing federal laws, clarifying that any individual in the business of selling firearms must obtain a license through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and therefore conduct background checks on prospective gun purchasers.  These actions also include new measures and resources to make the background check system more efficient and effective.

·         Protecting communities with bolstered enforcement: The executive actions take new steps to promote smart and effective enforcement of our gun laws – including a proposed increase in funding for 200 more ATF agents, greater resources for tracking illegal online firearms trafficking and strengthened domestic violence outreach efforts. 

·         Improving mental health services:  The President is proposing $500 million investment to expand access to mental health care.  Further, the executive actions remove barriers that prevent the reporting of relevant mental health information to the background check system. 

·         Driving new research into gun safety: The executive actions direct the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into new technology to make firearms safer.

Congresswoman Titus is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1217, the bipartisan King-Thompson bill to strengthen background checks nationwide.  The legislation, authored by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY), expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the internet or in classified ads while providing reasonable exceptions for family and friend transfers. Under the legislation, the current background check system would be expanded to require comprehensive, enforceable and life-saving background checks on all commercial gun sales.

Studies show that every day where background checks are used, the system stops more than 170 felons, some 50 domestic abusers, and nearly 20 fugitives from buying a gun.  However, no system is in place to prevent these same prohibited purchasers from buying identical guns at a gun show, over the internet, or through a newspaper ad with no questions asked – because background checks are not required for these kinds of sales.  The King-Thompson bill closes these outrageous, dangerous loopholes.