Gun Violence

Citing constraints on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that prevent it from carrying out its mission to enforce gun safety laws, Congressman Don Beyer introduced the ATF Enforcement Act today.  In addition to removing procedural blocks that prevent the ATF from protecting American families, the bill would also allow the ATF Director position to bypass… Read more »

The House of Representatives today rejected Rep. Beyer’s gun safety amendment to the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015 (SHARE Act).   On a mostly party-line vote,  the House declined to restrict dangerous individuals from using target ranges on public land. “The House made a dangerous decision today to allow convicted felons unfettered access to… Read more »

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) released the following statement in support of President Obama’s executive action to help prevent gun violence in America. “The President’s actions today will help to strengthen the current background check system, and ensure more people undergo those checks before buying a firearm,” said Rep. Beyer. “These actions are long overdue and will help to keep guns… Read more »

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 »