ICYMI: Thompson, DeGette, Democratic Leadership Announce Effort to Force Vote on Large Capacity Magazine Ban
Today, House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) alongside House Democratic Leadership announced the filing of a discharge petition for the Keep Americans Safe Act, an effort to force a House vote on a ban of large capacity magazines.
“Large capacity magazines are a threat to our kids in schools, our communities, and to our law enforcement on the streets who are outgunned by dangerous individuals in possession of these magazines,” said Thompson. “The only reason someone would want a large capacity magazine for a semi-automatic weapon would be to inflict massive amounts of carnage is a short period of time. I am proud to work with Diana DeGette to advance this commonsense piece of legislation, and I implore my colleagues on the other side to work with us to help save lives.”
“High-capacity magazines serve no purpose other than to amplify the destructive potential of firearms,” DeGette said. “Sensible gun safety protects our collective well-being, because, as we’ve seen, someone with a high-capacity weapon can commit these shootings anywhere, anytime. So the time to act is now, and this discharge petition gives us the opportunity to address the epidemic of gun violence that has claimed far too many lives – even if Republicans are intent on ignoring this crisis.”
The Keep Americans Safe Act, would:
- Ban the sale or transfer of high-capacity gun magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds to anyone other than law enforcement.
- Ban the possession of a high-capacity gun magazine manufactured after the date of enactment by anyone other than law enforcement.
- Authorize high-capacity magazine buyback programs; and
- Authorize law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, to seize and destroy high-capacity magazines possessed illegally
The full press conference can be found here.