How NC members of Congress would tackle gun violence after Florida shooting
After the latest horrific mass shooting, every American is in one of two camps: Either you accept that this is just the way it is and that repeated mass shootings are unavoidable, or you believe we should take meaningful steps to stop being the world’s lone developed nation to suffer from so much carnage.
We are in the second camp.
We’re sick of being stuck in this cycle of violence, thoughts and prayers followed by no action followed by more violence. That won’t change without electing representatives willing to take real action.
We are under no delusions that there are easy answers. No legislation will eliminate mass shootings in a country awash in some 300 million guns. We do believe, however, that there are ways to reduce their frequency and their lethality. Republicans in Congress, in part because of the NRA’s influence, have failed to pass substantial measures as one tragedy after another unfolds in a uniquely American ritual.
Exhaustive research has shown a tight correlation between high rates of gun ownership and high rates of gun homicides. The United States is an extreme outlier on both measures. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to gun ownership. It has also ruled that reasonable restrictions do not violate the Constitution.
We would start with three such restrictions:
? Close the so-called gun show loophole that lets criminals buy guns without a background check.
? Further the development of “smart guns” that function only when a fingerprint or PIN is entered, such as with iPhones. Many guns used in crimes are stolen; this would render those inoperable.
? Ban the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and similar models. We do not suggest this lightly. But the AR-15 was used in Parkland, Las Vegas, Sandy Hook, Orlando, San Bernardino, Aurora, Colo., and Sutherland Springs, Texas. Why? It is an efficient killing machine. It is relatively light, has little kickback, expels bullets at almost three times the speed of a normal handgun and can be fired 30 times without needing to be reloaded. Of course mass shootings can and have happened with other guns. But an AR-15 ban would make them harder.
Those are our proposals for at least beginning to chip away at the problem. What does our congressional delegation propose?
On Thursday, we asked Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis; Reps. Robert Pittenger, Alma Adams, Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry and Ralph Norman; and Pittenger challengers Mark Harris and Dan McCready. We asked each of them: What specific gun-related policies would you support in an effort to combat the epidemic of gun violence in America?
Some did not cite any gun-related policies. Some were more specific than others. Read their responses below and decide who aligns with your view on combating the mass bloodshed in this country.
Rep. Alma Adams’ spokesman:
Rep. Adams supports the establishment of a bipartisan Select Committee on Gun Violence to study and report back common-sense legislation within 60 days. She has co-sponsored gun-related legislation to: close the gun show loophole; prohibit large-capacity magazines; prohibit bump stocks; and close the Charleston loophole, which lets dealers sell a gun after three business days even if a background check has not been completed.
Rep. Robert Pittenger:
Nikolas Cruz passed a background check, an assault weapons ban was in effect at the time of Columbine, and the guns at Sandy Hook were stolen. Clearly, additional restrictions on our Second Amendment rights are not the solution to the culture of violence plaguing our country and glorified in movies, television and games. Our country would be well-served with those in the media, education, government and elsewhere exposing this pervasive reality.
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Rep. Robert Pittenger
As well, we need bipartisan support for reforms to HIPPA so that local sheriffs receive complete, adequate information about mental health, and we need a return to common sense where folks feel free to speak up about disturbing social media posts.
Sen. Richard Burr’s spokesman:
Sen. Burr deeply believes we must prevent guns from getting into the hands of those seeking to do harm but we must do so without violating the rights of law-abiding Americans. He has supported strengthening the National Instant Criminal Background Check System as well as numerous mental health bills.
Sen. Burr also has voted for legislation to ensure that all appropriate records are in the system that our government uses to conduct federal background checks for people trying to purchase a gun. We must be able to efficiently and effectively screen would-be gun buyers for mental problems and criminal convictions. Sen. Burr has also voted for legislation to prevent terrorists from getting guns, while also making sure American citizens have a right to due process.
Sen. Thom Tillis’s spokesman:
Senator Tillis has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would enhance compliance and accuracy of the background check system and help ensure firearms stay out of the hands of criminals.
Rep. Richard Hudson’s spokesman:
Addressing the root cause of violence in our society and improving our mental health system has been and will continue to be a priority. Rep. Hudson has supported efforts, including: the 21st Century Cures Act, which included mental health reform; requiring agencies to report all federally prohibited persons to the NICS system; expanding access to mental health care; funding programs that train teachers to help before someone reaches a mental health crisis.
Dan McCready, a Democratic candidate in Pittenger’s 9th District:
Right now there are people in Congress who are too cowardly to even have a conversation about how to prevent this crisis. I support common-sense gun violence prevention like the bipartisan Manchin-Toomey proposal, which provided the chance for action on gun violence after the shooting at Sandy Hook, but was rejected by Congress.
As a Marine who carried an M-16 for four years, I’ve seen how deadly guns can be. I stand with the vast majority of parents, teachers, and responsible gun owners in supporting comprehensive background checks that are more strongly enforced to make sure that guns stay out of the hands of domestic terrorists, domestic abusers and the mentally ill.
Rep. Patrick McHenry did not respond.
Rep. Ralph Norman did not respond.
Mark Harris, running against Pittenger, did not respond.