Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Representative Esty's amendment to remove this misguided rider that will only prevent law enforcement from doing its job.

Since the ATF launched this initiative--the so-called long gun rule--to track multiple purchases of rifles and assault weapons, it has become a crucial tool with which to investigate and prosecute straw purchasers who enable the flood of illegal guns to cities and towns across our Nation. In my home city of New York, 85 percent of guns used in crimes were originally sold in a different State.

When we see the toll that illegal guns takes on our streets, why do we in Congress stand idle, now blocking law enforcement from addressing this crisis?

In the first 8 months of this initiative, the Bureau launched 120 investigations into gun trafficking in high-powered assault weapons, and a former special agent has called this rule a huge tool to combat illegal sales.

Please vote ``no'' on this misguided rule.

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