Gun Violence

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) joined Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and dozens of Democratic co-sponsors today to introduce the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015, which would renew the federal ban on military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. President Bill Clinton signed the original ban into law, but Congress allowed it to expire in 2004 under the Bush Administration. Read more »

The Center for American Progress (CAP) released a new report this morning, Virginia Under the Gun, detailing four aspects of gun violence in Virginia that stand out above the national average. Read more »

Congressman Don Beyer thanked Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe for signing an executive order to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals by better enforcing pre-existing Virginia laws.  “We must keep families in our Commonwealth and the nation safe from gun violence,” said Rep. Beyer. “This Executive Order will support our Attorney General and our law enforcement… Read more »

Congressman Don Beyer released the following statement in the wake of today’s shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon: “Speaker Boehner wants to ‘clear the barn’ in his last month in office, he said.  Today’s tragedy in Oregon reminds us of an opportunity for him:  It is within the Speaker’s power to bring a common-sense bill on gun violence prevention to the House… Read more »

Congressman Don Beyer introduced the Keeping Guns from Criminals Act to close a loophole in federal law that allows straw purchasers and gun traffickers to funnel firearms to felons, juveniles, and other restricted purchasers with little to no risk of being prosecuted. “This is not a complicated issue: No one wants guns in the hands of dangerous criminals," said Rep. Beyer.… Read more »