Rep. Demings Introduces Gun Violence Prevention Bill

ORLANDO, FL - Today, U.S. Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) introduced the Law Enforcement Protection Act with Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-2).

Said Rep. Demings, 'As a 27-year law enforcement officer, my top priority in Congress is to keep our communities safe. Gun manufacturers have used technical loopholes to design unregulated concealable assault weapons that can penetrate body armor worn by police officers and kill dozens of people in minutes. This legislation will regulate these weapons as we already do other similar firearms.

'Law enforcement is a dangerous job. We make it more dangerous by allowing criminals easy access to concealable, high-powered weapons that leave officers outgunned. In Boulder, Colorado last month a police officer and father of seven was among the ten people killed by a shooter with one of these exceptionally deadly weapons. We have a responsibility to ensure that our communities are no longer threatened by allowing mass shooters unlimited access to weapons designed for no other purpose than mass slaughter.'

Said Rep. Neguse, 'The use of concealable assault-style firearms has led to devastating acts of violence in our communities and the tragic deaths of many law enforcement officers. It's long past time to properly regulate these weapons to help keep our communities safe and save lives. The Law Enforcement Protection Act is a common-sense step that will close technical loopholes and ensure proper regulation of these dangerous weapons. Inaction on gun violence is not an option. We must utilize every tool at our disposal to protect our communities.'

Said Adzi Vokhiwa, Giffords Federal Affairs Director, 'Armor-piercing concealable firearms pose a grave threat to public safety. Just a few weeks ago, a shooter in Boulder, Colorado used such a weapon to commit a mass shooting at a grocery store, killing 10 people including a police officer. We commend Representatives Demings and Neguse for introducing the Law Enforcement Protection Act to better regulate these dangerous weapons and urge Congress to take up this legislation soon.'

Background

On February 6, 2019, Milwaukee Officer Matthew Rittner was killed by AK-47 style pistol when trying to execute a search warrant. On August 4, 2019, a man opened fire in downtown Dayton, Ohio and in less than a minute he was able to kill 9 people and injure 27 others. The weapon he used was a .223 caliber AR-15 style pistol, similar to an AR-15 style rifle but more concealable due to its shorter barrel. On March 22, 2021, a man started shooting people in a supermarket parking lot in Boulder, Colorado. He continued his assault in the store-ultimately killing 10 and injuring several others. One of the weapons he used was a Ruger AR-556 pistol.

These types of weapons are concealable and fire armor-piercing ammunition-making them as lethal as an assault rifle. They are specifically designed by gun manufacturers to circumvent the National Firearms Act (NFA)-a federal law regulating the manufacture, transfer, and possession of firearms. Their concealability and lethality make them especially dangerous for law enforcement personnel.

The Law Enforcement Protection Act would add armor-piercing, concealable weapons as a category under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The NFA, enacted in 1934 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 1939, was the first federal regulation on the manufacture, transfer, and possession of firearms and destructive devices. Possession of NFA-regulated firearms requires a background check, submission of photo identification and fingerprints, and registration of the firearm with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Transfers and sales of such firearms must be approved by the ATF. Violations of the Act are punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, $10,000 fine, forfeiture of regulated firearms, and a permanent ban on possessing firearms.

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.