Approximately 11,000 Americans are killed annually by guns and out of that figure a few hundred people are killed via mass killings using assault weapons. Sadly, each killing is horrendous and a terrible tragedy. It is important to note that now there is the emphasis, and rightly so, about banning assault weapons and magazine clips which needs to be done. We also need to focus on the issue of illegal hand guns that are killing our young people in urban centers throughout the country.
- Total Universal Background checks
- A Real Ban on Semi-Automatic Weapons and on Magazine Clips of more than 10 Rounds
- National Database of Owners of Purchased Guns
- Microstamping of Bullet Casings
- Aids law enforcement in determining people with clear records who have supplied criminals with guns
- The Top 5 Source States for Fire Arms recovered in New York State
- Virginia – Florida – Georgia – North Carolina – Pennsylvania
- Increased Funding and Authority for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to investigate and Track the Flow of Illegal Guns, including Hand Guns into Cities.
- Increased Penalties for Possessing an Illegal Firearm
Mental Health Issues
- Increased Funding providing Easy Access to Mental Health Professionals, Programs and Facilities
- Conflict Resolutions Programs in Elementary/Middle and High Schools should be Mandatory before a student can graduateIn Urban Communities reaching out to At Rick Youth and Organized Youth Gangs
- Mandatory Anti-Bullying Education and Programs
Quick Facts for Curbing Gun Violence
- Where there are more guns, there are more gun deaths.
- Gun ownership correlates with higher rates of homicides, suicides, unintentional shootings.
- Guns are more likely to increase the risk of injury and death than providing protection.
- Every year there are only about 200 legally justified self-defense homicides by private citizens compared with over 30,000 gun deaths.
- A recent study found that people in possession of a gun are 4.5 times more likely to be shot in an assault.
Lost and stolen guns
Every year, thousands of criminals use guns that have been lost or stolen from legitimate owners.
The Gun Show Loophole
Currently, licensed gun dealers are required to run criminal background checks on all buyers, but a loophole in the law enables criminals to avoid these checks if they buy from gun-sellers who don’t have licenses. Often operating at gun shows, these unlicensed sellers give criminals the opportunity to sidestep the background check system and easily purchase guns. Congress should close the gun show loophole.
Gun Dealer Fire Sales
When the federal government has shut down a gun dealer for selling illegally, it has nevertheless permitted that dealer to sell off its inventory – without conducting background checks. It’s time for Congress to put a stop to this reckless end-run around background checks.
Lack of Employee Background Checks
Under the current law, if a person can’t buy guns – because he or she has a criminal record or a history of mental illness – that person cannot sell guns either. But the law fails to require dealers to conduct background checks on their employees, even though they already use the background check system in their stores every day. Congress should act so that people behind the counter at gun stores must pass the same background check as their customers.
Learn more about requiring employee background checks
Sales from federal firearm licensees (FFLs) require a background check. Sales between individuals, under federal law, do not require a background check. This means that felons can “lie and buy” at gun shows and other places where guns are readily available.
The Tiahrt Amendment
The Tiahrt Amendments are provisions attached to federal spending bills that make it harder for law enforcement officers to aggressively pursue criminals who buy and sell illegal guns. The amendments restrict cities, states and even the police from fully accessing and using Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) gun trace data, require the Federal Bureau of Investigation to destroy certain background check records within 24 hours, and block ATF from requiring gun dealers to conduct inventory checks to detect loss and theft.
