Cummings Statement on NRA Agreement On Bill To Combat Gun Trafficking

Apr 10, 2013
Press Release

Washington, DC —Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to an agreement reached by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) with the National Rifle Association (NRA) on a modified version of legislation in the Senate to combat gun trafficking:

“I am heartened by the significant progress made today in the Senate toward expanding background checks and fighting firearms trafficking. I am also encouraged that the NRA agreed to support firearms trafficking legislation, which I have championed for many years. Our trafficking bill in the House has broad support with more than 100 co-sponsors, including Democrats and Republicans alike. I hope we can build on this progress and enact these common sense reforms to reduce gun violence.”

Cummings introduced H.R. 452, The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013 with Reps. Scott Rigell (R-Virginia), Carolyn Maloney (D-New York), and Patrick Meehan (R-Pennsylvania), which would 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 who are prohibited from buying guns on their own. More than 100  Members of the House of Representatives from both political parties have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. The legislation also has the strong support of law enforcement organizations.  

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Issues: 
113th Congress