McCollum Votes to Pass the Protecting Our Kids Act to Save Lives from Gun Violence

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement after voting for the Protecting Our Kids Act (H.R. 7910), a comprehensive package of gun violence prevention proposals to stop the spread of gun -related crimes and help prevent future mass casualty shootings:

"The American people are pleading for real action to stop the senseless gun violence claiming 110 innocent lives every single day across America," McCollum said. "I voted for the lifesaving proposals in the Protecting Our Kids Act, and now it is up to the Senate. I encourage everyone who cares about keeping our communities safe to call on Republican Senators to end easy access to guns, stop the proliferation of gun-related crimes, and help prevent future mass casualty shootings. It is past time to end these preventable tragedies."

Background
Congresswoman McCollum cosponsored and voted for the Democratic-led package of gun reform legislation, H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act, which:

• Raises the lawful age to purchase a semiautomatic centerfire rifle from 18 to 21 years old;

• Establishes a new federal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of large capacity magazines, and allows state and local governments to use the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to compensate individuals who surrender large capacity magazines through a buyback program;

• Establishes new federal offenses for gun trafficking and straw purchases and authorizes seizure of the property and proceeds of those offenses;

• Establishes voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage; awards grants for Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs; and provides a tax credit for 10% of amounts received from the retail sale of safe storage devices;

• Establishes requirements to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises and creates criminal penalties for violation of the requirements;

• Builds on ATF's regulatory bump stock ban by listing bump stocks under the National Firearms Act, and bans the manufacture, sale, or possession of bump stocks for civilian use; and

• Builds on ATF's regulatory ban of ghost guns by ensuring that ghost guns are subject to existing federal firearm regulation by amending the definition of "firearm" to include gun kits and partial receivers and changes the definition of "manufacturing firearms" to include assembling firearms using 3D printing.

The House passed this legislation 223-204.

Throughout the 117th Congress, Congresswoman McCollum has worked to pass multiple bills through the U.S. House of Representatives that would curb gun violence and help keep our communities safe, including H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, legislation to address the Charleston Loophole. McCollum continues to call on Senate Republicans to stop obstructing these necessary community safety measures.

A recent poll by Morning Consult and POLITICO showed support for commonsense gun violence prevention legislation is widespread:

• 88 percent support requiring background checks for all gun sales
• 84 percent support preventing firearm sales to people reported as dangerous to law enforcement by a mental health provider
• 81 percent support requiring background checks on private gun sales and sales at gun shows

Despite the overwhelming support of the American people, Senate Republicans have failed to face the gun lobby and pass commonsense gun violence prevention measures like H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 that will help save lives. Rep. McCollum invites constituents to join her in calling on Senate Republicans to take action to help save lives and reduce gun violence in our country.

There have been over 200 mass shootings in 2022, and the Uvalde shooting is the worst mass shooting at an elementary school since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. Guns are now the leading cause of death among American children, including in Minnesota.

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