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Chairman Thompson, Vice Chairs Neguse, Demings and Perlmutter Lead Letter Asking President Biden to Regulate Concealable Assault-Style Rifles

March 31, 2021

Comes in the wake of tragic shooting in Boulder, CO

Washington – Today Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Vice Chairs Joe Neguse (CO-02), Val B. Demings (FL-10), and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) led a letter signed by 101 of their colleagues asking President Biden to take Executive Action to regulate concealable assault-style rifles, like the firearm used in the recent tragedy in Boulder, Colorado. Members cited ability of the administration to regulate such firearms under the National Firearms Act.

A copy of the letter is below.

Dear President Biden,

The House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force calls on you to take strong executive action to address serious inequities in the implementation of the National Firearms Act which is the federal law regulating the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain classes of firearms. For too long, gun manufacturers in order to circumvent the National Firearms Act have designed and marketed concealable AR-15 style firearms which fire rifle rounds.

Concealable assault-style firearms that fire rifle rounds pose an unreasonable threat to our communities and should be fully regulated under the National Firearms Act consistent with the intent and history of the law. The recent tragedy in Boulder, Colorado where 10 people including a police officer were killed is one in a string of deadly incidents involving this style of weapon. On February 6, 2019, Milwaukee Officer Matthew Rittner was killed by an AK-47 style concealable weapon while trying to execute a search warrant. Later that year on August 4, 2019, a concealable .223 caliber AR-15 style firearm was used to kill 9 people and injure 17 others in Dayton, Ohio in less than 1 minute.

The National Firearms Act has proven to be extremely effective in preventing crimes with the classes of particularly dangerous firearms it regulates through a system requiring a background check, submission of photo identification and fingerprints, and registration of the firearm with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The 1934 law sought to regulate certain weapons because of their frequent use in crime. Some of the features exploited by criminals and included for enhanced regulation under the NFA include, sawed off shotguns, rifles with short barrels and weapons with a high capacity of firing like machine guns.

The concealability and ability to use ammunition capable of penetrating body armor make these firearms especially dangerous on our streets and for law enforcement personnel. We thank you for your commitment to preventing gun violence and urge you to immediately promulgate regulations to cover these concealable assault firearms under the National Firearms Act.