Issue Position: Reducing Gun Violence

Issue Position

Our country is in need of common sense legislation that prevents gun violence. While I will continue to protect the Second Amendment rights of marksmen like myself, there are immediate steps we can take that will ensure the safety of our children, military installations and communities.

We must have universal background checks for gun purchases. Carrying a gun is a serious responsibility and we need penalties for those who steal guns or illegally purchase them for others. I am a proud cosponsor of the bipartisan Gun Trafficking Prevention Act, which makes gun trafficking a federal crime and strengthens penalties for straw purchasers; people who purchase firearms for someone who is prohibited from owning them.

In addition, we need to limit access to weapons that can kill a large number of people in just a few seconds. While any proposed legislation must properly define these weapons, the Supreme Court has made it clear that reasonable limitations are fully consistent with the Second Amendment.

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