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Tumia Romero (Davis) 773-533-7520

Mark Greenbaum (Pascrell) 202-225-5751

Matt Fried (Schneider) 202-557-4860

Hunter Spence (Blumenauer) 202-604-7229

Samara Sheff (Moore) 202-495-8879

Ben Turner (Evans) 202-225-4001

Reps. Davis, Pascrell, Schneider, Blumenauer, Moore, and Evans Lead Bill to Create Guaranteed Annual Funding for Gun Violence Prevention

Washington, D.C.-  Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Bill Pascrell, Jr., (D-NJ), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Dwight Evans (D-PA) recognized June as Gun Violence Prevention Month by introducing The Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act - legislation to create guaranteed annual funding for gun violence prevention. The bill would increase the federal excise tax on guns and ammunition by just half a percent and apply the federal excise firearms tax to assault-weapon frames and receivers which currently are not taxed if sold separately.  The bill would direct the estimated $20 to $36 million in new revenue to four programs designed to make communities safer:  community-based violence prevention grants; gun violence research; hate crimes prevention and enforcement; and forensic examiner training to improve gun crime clearance rates.

 “The gun violence crisis in America inflicts epidemic harm on individuals, families, and communities, and the federal government must substantially invest in gun violence prevention,” said Rep. Davis.  “Not one penny of current federal excise taxes on guns and ammunition goes to gun violence prevention. Further, the federal gun tax has remained the same for over 100 years, and the ammunition tax is the same as it was during World War II.  The Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act is an important part of comprehensive gun violence prevention because it creates guaranteed annual funding to stop gun violence via a small increase of 0.5% in existing excise gun and ammunition taxes.  This bill also closes a major loophole in tax law that allows many assault-type weapons to evade taxes altogether. This bill is an important step in ensuring federal investment every year to make our communities safer. We must do more to help Chicago and communities across the nation.”

“Gun violence continues to threaten communities from coast to coast and Congress has a responsibility to stem the crisis,” said Rep. Pascrell, co-Chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus. “After decades of inaction, raising the tax on firearms would provide an offset to the massive cost to society of gun violence – exactly as taxes on alcohol and tobacco have successfully done. At the same time, this legislation will provide critical resources to our badly strapped state and local police forces, community anti-violence programs, and gun violence research. This bill would be a down payment on safeguarding our children, our communities, and our future. It is the type of solution the American people demand.”

“This summer, my community was devastated by gun violence when a deranged individual used an assault rifle to open fire on a joyful July 4th parade in Highland Park, murdering 7 and wounding many others,” said Congressman Schneider. “These weapons of war should be off our streets altogether. And beyond robbing us of our loved ones, many assault-style weapons regularly evade taxes entirely. This bill will close this undeserved tax loophole and make sure that assault weapons are taxed the same way as other firearms. It will also generate much-needed funding for gun violence prevention efforts, a critical step to addressing the gun violence epidemic in my community and in communities across the country.”

“When active shooter drills become as common as fire drills and earthquake drills in our children’s schools, we can no longer deny that gun violence in America is a crisis,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “While there is no single solution to ending gun violence, there are common sense solutions that can dramatically reduce gun violence and critically, save lives. This legislation to create annual funding certainty for gun violence prevention programs is a critical, common sense step we can take now to address the unrelenting trauma of gun violence in our communities.”

“The threat of gun violence is an issue that my constituents and millions of Americans often confront every day,” said Rep. Moore. “We can and must use every tool available to help end gun violence, including fixing discrepancies in our tax laws and empowering our communities with more funds for programs aimed at reducing violence.  That’s why I am proud to join my Ways and Means colleagues in championing this important legislative initiative."

“Guaranteed annual funding for gun violence prevention – estimated at $20 million to 38 million per year – would be an important tool in the toolbox to save lives, and I’m proud to support it,” said Rep. Evans.

Brady: United Against Gun Violence: “Over 400 million firearms have been sold in the United States, yet, unconscionably, no portion of the government funds generated by gun sales or dealer licensing have been directed to programs which address and prevent gun violence in America. By modestly increasing those funding streams and directing those resources to research, crime gun intelligence, and violence intervention and prevention programs we can better protect our communities. Brady is grateful to Rep. Davis for re-introducing this life-saving legislation, which will ensure federal funding for critical gun violence prevention programs. – Kris Brown, President of Brady

“Investing tax dollars from gun sales in life-saving gun violence prevention measures is a common-sense way to keep our communities safe,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We applaud Representative Davis and his colleagues for sponsoring this update to our nation’s tax policy, which will support programs and organizations focused on addressing America’s gun violence crisis."

"Over one million Americans have been shot since my neighbor used an AR15 to hunt and kill 26 children and educators in Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Gun violence is a public health crisis with an annual taxpayer price tag of $280 Billion. It's time for gun owners to help fund the hefty cost of gun violence in the U.S. and we urge Congress to swiftly pass the Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act and send it to the President's desk."—Po Murray, Chairwoman or Newtown Action Alliance. 

Violence Policy Center: “The need to invest federal resources in gun violence prevention has never been more urgent as we are experiencing  unprecedented levels of gun death and injury.  The Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act will ensure that assault weapon manufacturers are fairly taxed and that those funds will be used to reduce gun violence,” said Violence Policy Center Government Affairs Director Kristen Rand.“The Violence Policy Center applauds Representatives Davis and Pascrell for their leadership on this innovative strategy to provide dedicated funding for gun violence prevention.”

This legislation is supported by:  Brady: United Against Gun Violence; Everytown for Gun Safety; Giffords; Newtown Action Alliance; and the Violence Policy Center.

Original source can be found here.