Cummings Applauds New Executive Action to Reduce Gun Violence and Swearing-In of First Senate-Confirmed ATF Director in Years

Aug 29, 2013
Press Release

Washington, DC—Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement regarding new executive actions unveiled today to prevent criminals from obtaining guns and to ban re-imports of military surplus firearms to private entities.  These actions were announced on the same day that the first Senate-confirmed Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 7 years, B. Todd Jones, is scheduled to be sworn into office.

“I commend the Obama Administration for taking crucial steps to help keep machine guns and other firearms out of the hands of the most dangerous criminals and prevent military-grade weapons from ending up on our streets.  I am confident that Director Jones will provide the strong leadership necessary to carry out these rules and help keep Americans safe.  Now that the agency has a permanent director after years of delay, I remain hopeful that our law enforcement officials will get the tools they need to effectively combat illegal gun trafficking.”

Earlier this year, Cummings introduced bipartisan anti-trafficking legislation in the House—H.R. 452, The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013— to make firearms trafficking a federal crime for the first time and impose stronger penalties for “straw purchasers” who buy guns for convicted felons and others prohibited from buying guns on their own. More than 100 Members of the House from both political parties signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.  The legislation has the strong support of local, state, and national law enforcement organizations across the country. 

Issues: 
113th Congress