Rep. Cleaver Votes to Protect Children from Gun Violence
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of common-sense gun legislation aimed at reducing gun violence. H.R.7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act, would take important steps in helping to save lives and protect our kids from the scourge of gun violence.
"Thoughts and prayers are not an adequate response to the burgeoning gun violence impacting communities throughout the nation," said Congressman Cleaver. "A history of inaction does not, and must not, set precedence for how Congress responds to these senseless, preventable tragedies, which is why, tonight, I proudly voted in favor of the Protecting Our Kids Act. The United States is the only industrialized nation where headlines of children gunned down in schools, churchgoers gunned down in religious sanctuaries, or shoppers gunned down in grocery stores are a weekly occurrence that don't result in concrete, widespread action – this is not acceptable. I remain steadfast in my commitment to preventing gun violence and changing the way in which lawmakers respond to these tragedies that have characterized the United States."
The Protecting Our Kids Act is comprised of seven titles and would:
- Raise the age for buying semi-automatic weapons to 21
- Ban high-capacity magazines and bump stocks
- Crack down on gun trafficking
- Close the ghost-gun loophole
- Strengthen safe storage requirements
Title I – The Raise the Age Act – raises the lawful age to purchase certain semi-automatic centerfire rifles and shotguns from 18 to 21 years old. Currently, someone has to be 21 years old to purchase a handgun, but they can purchase a semi-automatic centerfire rifle or shotgun at age 18.
Title II – The Prevent Gun Trafficking Act – establishes new federal offenses for gun trafficking and for the use of "straw purchasers". Under current federal law, it is illegal to make false statements on certain gun purchase forms, but these forms are only required for some firearms purchases. By creating a new federal offense, Title II ensures that straw purchasing can be prosecuted as an independent offense rather than relying on prosecuting false statements to address straw purchasing.
Title III – The Untraceable Firearms Act – closes the ghost gun loophole by amending the definition of "firearm" under federal law to include gun kits and partial receivers and by changing the definition of "manufacturing firearms" to include assembling firearms using 3D printing technology.
Title IV – Safe Storage – establishes federal standards for safe storage of firearms. The presence of unsecured firearms in the home increases the risk of unintentional and intentional shooting, particularly with minors in residence. Over 75 percent of firearms used in youth suicide attempts and unintentional firearm injuries were stored in the residence of the victim, a relative, or a friend.
Title V – The Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act – builds on the 2018 rule, which added bump stocks to the definition of "machine gun", by farther defining bump stocks and listing them under the National Firearms Act so that they are regulated the same as machine guns.
Title VI – The Keep Americans Safe Act – prohibits the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a magazine that holds more than 15 rounds of ammunition, unless an individual falls under a particular exception. These high-capacity magazines are designed for shooting and killing en masse and have been the accessory of choice in some of the bloodiest mass shooting in America.
Title VII – Miscellaneous – contains one provision which provides that the Attorney General shall submit to the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee and annual report that contains demographic data of persons who were determined to be ineligible to purchase a firearm based on the background check performed by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
"In the wake of recent mass shootings, Congress has failed to enact gun safety measures that would help save lives. Enough is enough. The Protecting Our Kids Act takes necessary action to reduce the carnage our nation has come to know all too well," said Congressman Cleaver.
Official text of the Protecting Our Kids Act is available here.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
