Issue Position: Gun Safety

Issue Position

Like many Americans, Senator Schatz has been horrified by the senseless gun violence that continues to afflict the country. Too many families are forced to try to cope with the loss of their loved ones when their deaths could have been prevented by common-sense gun safety legislation.

Senator Schatz knows there is far more that can be done to prevent gun violence and keep our families and communities safe. He has helped lead the effort to get military-style assault weapons out of our communities as an original co-sponsor of legislation to ban assault weapons. Additionally, he has voted to limit the type of high-capacity ammunition clips that allow killers to inflict far more violence.

Along with 90% of Americans, Senator Schatz agrees with President Obama that background checks should be required before purchasing a firearm to prevent guns being issued to criminals or people with severe mental illness. He voted for the Manchin-Toomey amendment in April 2013 to close several gaping background check loopholes while still exempting legitimate non-commercial transfers between family or close friends.

Rapid developments in technology are allowing new threats to materialize, such as dangerous people using a 3D printer to create weapons at home, including ones made from plastics so that they are undetectable by normal screening equipment like metal detectors and X-ray machines. Senator Schatz is looking to guard against threats like these before the unthinkable happens, by co-sponsoring the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act.

Americans deserve to feel safe in our public places like stores, schools, and restaurants. Senator Schatz has earned support from national gun safety leaders for his commitment to banning assault weapons and making sure firearms don't end up in the hands of dangerous people so that we can help keep our homes and public places safe and secure.

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