To ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the national instant criminal background check system and require a background check for every firearm sale.
Position: Support
Status: Failed to pass vote on June 20, 2016. Nay: 56; Yea: 44
Introduced by Congressman David N. Cicilline in 2015, the Assault Weapons Ban will prohibit the sale, transfer, production and importation of new military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Specifically, it prohibits:
-Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
-Semi-automatic rifles and handguns 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;
-And 157 specifically-named and listed firearms.
In addition the bill extends the period for law enforcement to complete a background check from 3 days to 14 days.
Position: Support
Status: In the Senate
The Feinstein Amendment 4720 prevents known or suspected terrorists from buying guns and ensures that DOJ/FBI would have been notified of the Orlando shooter's attempted purchase.
Specifically, the Feinstein Amendment 4720 gives the Attorney General the ability to deny a gun transfer to a known or suspected terrorist:
-based on the totality of the circumstances;
-where the transferee represents a threat to public safety, and
-there is a reasonable suspicion that the transferee is or has been engaged in terrorist activity.
In addition, Amendment 4720 provides a due process appeal consistent with remedial procedures for gun denials and allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop procedures to protect classified information.
The Amendment also requires the Attorney General to establish procedures to ensure the Attorney General (or designee) is notified when a person investigated within the past five years for terrorism attempts a gun purchase. This would ensure that DOJ/FBI would have been notified of the Orlando shooter's attempted purchase.
Position: Support
Status: Failed to pass a vote at 2:30 PM PDT, June 20, 2016. Nay: 53; Yea: 47