Maloney, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Gun Trafficking

Press Release

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) Monday introduced the Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act of 2019 to make firearms trafficking a federal felony and impose stronger penalties for "straw purchasers" who buy guns for convicted felons and others who are prohibited from buying guns on their own.

The members have been working on similar legislation together since 2013.

"This is bipartisan legislation that can save lives by giving law enforcement the tools it needs and has asked for to combat gun trafficking and straw purchases," said Rep. Maloney. "For years, law enforcement has been asking Congress to make gun trafficking a federal felony and to impose harsher penalties on straw purchases who buy guns for those who are not allowed to buy guns on their own. This bill answers those calls and treats gun trafficking and straw purchases as the dangerous acts they are in order to prevent more senseless gun violence."

"I have long supported efforts to crack down on illegal gun trafficking," said Rep King. "This legislation will make our citizens safer by giving law enforcement the tools they need to take gun-traffickers off the streets who are funneling firearms to felons, drug cartels and gang members. I am proud to be offering a solution to this problem."

This legislation was first introduced in 2013. It was again introduced in 2015 and 2017 with bipartisan support. Specifically, the legislation:

Prohibits Firearms Trafficking: The bill prohibits the purchase or transfer of a firearm if the intent is to deliver it to someone else who is prohibited by Federal or State law from possessing one.
Strengthens Penalties for Straw Purchasers: The bill strengthens penalties to up to 20 years imprisonment for "straw purchasers" who intentionally provide false or misleading material information when they purchase firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.
Enhances Penalties for Kingpins and Multiple Illegal Purchases: The bill provides enhanced penalties for organizers or managers of firearms trafficking networks and recommends that the Sentencing Commission increase penalties for multiple illegal gun purchases.

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