In Wake Of Yet Another Mass Shooting, Senate Democrats Announce Votes Today On Gun Safety Legislation – Amendments Would Tighten Up And Expand Background Checks, Close Terror Gap Loophole To Keep Guns Out Of The Wrong Hands & Strengthen Treatment For Mental Health & Substance Abuse
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Democrats announced today that later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on legislation to close loopholes that allow those on the terror watchlist to purchase guns and explosives, expand background checks to cover gun sales on internet and at gun shows, and strengthen treatment for mental health and substance abuse. In the wake of yet another mass shooting, Senate Democrats urged their Republican colleagues to abandon the National Rifle Association, which has opposed every sensible gun safety measure, and join the majority of Americans and gun owners who support this legislation.
The amendments, which will be filed to the pending Budget reconciliation legislation and voted on today, include:
Closing Background Check Loopholes: Senate Democrats will force a vote today in the Senate on legislation to close loopholes that allow people to purchase guns without having first passed a background check.
- Under current law, guns can be sold over the internet and at gun shows without any background checks at all.
- Millions of guns are sold through these loopholes every year, and according to one study, nearly 70 percent of prison inmates obtained the guns used in crimes through transactions that did not require a background check. [CAP, 2/15]
- Today’s legislation would close those loopholes by requiring a background check before a gun can be sold online or at gun shows.
Prevent Those On Terror Watchlist From Purchasing Guns & Explosives: Senate Democrats will force a vote today in the Senate on the “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015.” This amendment empowers the U.S. Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to suspected terrorists if it is reasonably believed those individuals may use firearms or explosives in connection with an act of terrorism, all while protecting legitimate gun owners’ rights to acquire guns or explosives.
- Under current law, a member of a terrorist organization is not prohibited “possessing firearms or explosives” or from being able to purchase handguns or assault-style rifles.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that between 2004 and 2014, suspected terrorists attempted to exploit this loophole and purchase guns at least 2,233 times, succeeding in 2,043 of those instances, or 91 percent of the time.
Strengthen Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders: Senate Democrats will force a vote today in the Senate on legislation to strengthen funding for services to prevent and treat mental illness and substance abuse disorders through Medicaid, commercial insurance, and state public health agencies. The amendment would:
- Hold Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) issuers on the exchanges accountable to stronger mental health parity and addiction equity standards.
- Strengthen Medicaid coverage of services to prevent and treat mental illness and substance use disorders.
- Create a Substance Use and Mental Health Capacity Fund to substantially increase funding over ten years for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant program.
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