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WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko joined Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) and 212 other Representatives in the House to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Senate back into session immediately and pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act.

The letter reads in part: “This inaction must stop. We know background checks save lives. Every day background checks stop more than 170 felons and 50 domestic abusers from getting a gun. Any delay to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation only increases the chances that more innocent people in America may suffer from the tragic and needless loss caused by gun violence.”

In addition to supporting House-passed H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112, Rep. Tonko also cosponsors:

• The DISARM Hate Act: prohibits individuals convicted of a misdemeanor-level hate crime or who have received an enhanced sentence for a misdemeanor crime after a judicial finding that they acted with hate or bias motivation from buying or possessing guns.

• COOL OFF Act: requires all buyers to wait three business days before receiving a handgun, regardless of how quickly they pass a background check.

• Assault Weapons Ban: prohibits the sale, transfer, production, and importation of weapons of choice for would-be U.S. mass shooters including:
  • Semi-automatic rifles and pistols with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
  • Semi-automatic rifles with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
  • Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
  • Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
  • 205 specifically-named and listed firearms.

• Extreme Risk Protection Order Act: sets up a grant program to incentivize states to adopt extreme risk (a.k.a. red flag) laws. Extreme risk laws allow for the temporary removal of firearms from a person at risk of harming themselves or others – utilizing the courts to determine if sufficient evidence exists to issue an extreme risk protection order – and ensure due process by allowing the individual the ability to appeal the court order at any time. These laws:
  • Are based on states’ already-established domestic violence protective order processes
  • Allow families or law enforcement to go to court to seek a gun violence prevention order to temporarily prohibit someone who poses a threat to themselves or others from obtaining a firearm.
  • Allow courts to issue a gun violence prevention warrant to let law enforcement take temporary possession of firearms that are in an individual’s possession if the court determines that the individual poses a threat to themselves or others.
  • Ensure that law enforcement makes full use of all existing state and local gun databases when assessing a tip, warning, or request from a concerned family member.
  • Protect the rights of the individual by ensuring due process through the courts.

• Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act: protects survivors of dating violence and stalking by closing two loopholes in existing law while maintaining due process protections for the accused. This bill amends current law to add individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking to the federal prohibited purchasers list. This bill also ensures that people who have abused dating partners are prohibited from buying or owning firearms. Current federal law is silent about people who have abused their current or former dating partners, the “boyfriend loophole” still allows abusive dating partners to obtain a gun.
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Full text of the letter:

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Majority Leader

United States Senate

The Capitol, S-230

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Leader McConnell:

We strongly urge you to take immediate action to call the Senate back into session to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act.

In February, the new Democratic House Majority took swift action to pass these bipartisan bills which not only save lives, but also has the support of more than 90 percent of the American people.  Since that time, you have allowed more than 150 days to pass and countless lives have been lost including those most recently lost in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, Dayton, Ohio, Chicago, Illinois and the many others who will never make the headlines. 

This inaction must stop. We know background checks save lives.  Every day background checks stop more than 170 felons and 50 domestic abusers from getting a gun.  Any delay to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation only increases the chances that more innocent people in America may suffer from the tragic and needless loss caused by gun violence.

Again, we urge you to follow the leadership of the House Democratic Majority and immediately come back into session to pass H.R 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, that could prevent dangerous criminals from obtaining weapons and save lives.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter of great urgency to the American people.

Signed,

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