Gun Violence Prevention

Congresswoman wears orange in honor of Gun Violence Awareness Day

Our nation is facing an epidemic of gun violence and mass killings that are devastating families, ripping apart communities, and forcing all of us to question our own safety. The common denominator is guns and easy access to guns by individuals intent on committing acts of violence. Over the years, I have voted over and over to ban assault weapons, impose background checks, and limit access to firearms, but Republicans in Congress and the gun lobby block and obstruct common sense gun safety provisions at every step. Furthermore, many Republican-controlled states are actually making it easier to obtain and carry firearms, even assault weapons, in public without a permit or training.

In Congress, my voice, my vote, and my values are all focused on common sense measures that reduce gun violence, keep guns off our streets, and eliminate access to guns that are designed for mass murder. For me, the safety of families and communities are my priority. But it is also time for the American people – all of us – to have our voice heard and change the political dynamic that is allowing the gun lobby to promote gun sales while obstructing gun safety legislation.

I am working closely with my colleagues to move additional gun violence prevention legislation through the House, and I remain steadfastly committed to reducing gun violence and keeping children and families safe from harm.

I also invite you, the American people, to use the power of our democracy to put pressure on Republicans and to elect representatives who will prioritize the lives of school children, shoppers, churchgoers, and neighbors in a movie theater or at a concert over the National Rifle Association, gun manufacturers, or right-wing insurrectionist ideologues.

You can count on my vote for real action on gun safety – and it will take all of us to create long-term change. We've got to act, and we've got to do it together.

Sincerely,

Public Statements

March 19, 2023: Applauding President Biden for Executive Action on Gun Violence

June 24, 2022: Voting for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

June 8, 2022: McCollum Votes to Pass the Protecting Our Kids Act to Save Lives from Gun Violence

May 24, 2022: McCollum Statement on the Mass Murder of School Children in Texas

March 15, 2022: McCollum Successfully Secures Federal Funding for Violence Prevention, Public Safety

Recent tweets from Rep. McCollum on Gun Violence Awareness Day, the leading cause of death for children, and working to pass additional legislation.

Finding MN-04 Solutions

First Responders and Law Enforcement Roundtable: Addressing the Gun Violence Epidemic in Our Community (June 3, 2022)

Elected Leaders Roundtable: Addressing the Gun Violence Epidemic in Our Community (June 10, 2022)

From the Center for American Progress: 8 Ways to Reduce Gun Violence in Minnesota

VOTING RECORD

Congresswoman McCollum voted to pass the following legislation in the last Congress:

Protecting our Kids Act (H.R. 7910), a package of common sense gun violence prevention reforms. Find a summary of the provisions here.
Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8) to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them
Enhanced Background Checks Act (H.R. 1446) to close the Charleston Loophole
Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022 (H.R. 350) to authorize federal agencies to monitor, analyze, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism

LEGISLATION

Congresswoman McCollum has co-sponsored the following legislation this Congress:

Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2023 (H.R. 584): Requires federally-licensed dealers to confirm the identity of individuals who arrange to purchase ammunition over the internet by verifying a photo identification, as well as requiring ammunition vendors to report any sales of more than 1,000 rounds within 5 consecutive days to the U.S. Attorney General, if the person purchasing ammunition is not a licensed ammunition seller.
Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2023 (H.R. 1361): Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to States, units of local government, and gun dealers to conduct gun buyback programs.
Ethan's Law (H.R. 660): Requires safe storage of firearms to ensure that a child or others who cannot lawfully obtain a firearm from getting a hold of one and causing harm to themselves or others. Violation of this law results in a fine of $500 for each instance.
Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2023 (H.R. 715): Establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between individuals without a license and requires that a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first conduct a background check on the buyer.
Identifying Mass Shooters Act (H.R. 563): Requires the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to report to Congress on social media and online content patterns used by mass shooters as well as submit recommendations based on these findings.
Federal Firearm Licensee Act (H.R. 1478): Establishes new requirements regarding the sale of firearms by federally licensed distributors. Requires federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to secure their business premises, conduct checks of their inventories, and comply with expanded reporting requirements and increased penalties for violations.
Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2023 (H.R. 2870): Adds bump stocks to the list of firearms subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act of 1968.
Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act (H.R. 3962): Establishes the Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence, which must assess the needs of victims of gun violence and disseminate information about helpful resources.
Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2023 (H.R. 3018): Establishes procedures and grants for the issue of federal extreme risk protection orders. Extreme risk protection order laws, or red flag laws, generally allow certain individuals (e.g., law enforcement officers or family members) to petition a court for a temporary order that prohibits an at-risk individual from purchasing and possessing firearms.
Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act (H.R. 4965): directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage solely for the purpose of public education. The DOJ must give at least 90 days public notice and afford an opportunity for a hearing before establishing such best practices.
Raise the Age Act (H.R. 2870): Establishes new restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals under 21 years of age (exemptions for full-time law enforcement officers and active duty members of the Armed Forces).

Congresswoman McCollum has also signed the following discharge petitions to bring certain gun control bills to a House Floor vote:

Discharge Petition No. 2: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 698) to regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes.
Discharge Petition No.3: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2403) to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to strengthen the background check procedures to be followed before a Federal firearms licensee may transfer a firearm to a person who is not such a licensee.
Discharge Petition No. 4: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 715) to require a background check for every firearm sale.
Discharge Petition No.7: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 660) to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to require the safe storage of firearms, and for other purposes.
Discharge Petition No. 8: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 625) to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
Discharge Petition No. 13: To authorize the issuance of extreme risk protection orders.
Discharge Petition No. 14: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 396) to regulate bump stocks in the same manner as machineguns

Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, available 24/7, for confidential assistance from a trained advocate. You can also find more resources on legal assistance in English and Spanish at WomensLaw.org.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255, is available 24/7 in English and Spanish. Learn more.
For information, data, and ways to get involved in preventing gun violence in Minnesota, visit Everytown for Gun Safety.