WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Congressman Ted Deutch (Fla.-22) today introduced the Keep Americans Safe Act, common sense public safety legislation that would ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. These high-capacity magazines are designed for shooting en masse and are an accessory of choice among many mass shooters.
Sen. Menendez and Rep. Deutch made the announcement on Capitol Hill, just days before the anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. They were joined by Parkland parents, gun safety advocates, Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy (both D-Conn.), who represent Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., and Rep. Dina Titus (Nev.-01), who represents Las Vegas.
“Today we stand with Parkland, with Newtown, with Orlando and with countless communities across America that have been torn apart by horrific gun violence to say that weapons of war have no place on our streets and high capacity magazines have no place on our shelves,” said Sen. Menendez. “The Keep Americans Safe Act would finally limit the sale of large capacity magazines that are not designed for hunting or self-defense but instead for killing as many people as possible without having to stop and reload. Inaction on gun violence is not an option and anyone who refuses to address a real emergency like this one is complicit in the carnage. Together we must continue fighting for the day when we can truly say ‘never again’.”
"House Democrats were sent to Congress to address the epidemic of gun violence in our country, and this legislation is another significant measure toward keeping this promise to the American people," said Rep. Deutch. "Whether you're using a firearm for sport or self-defense, there is no need for a magazine that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. Large capacity magazines are used almost universally in mass shootings because of their ability to maximize casualties. This proposal is a way to respect law-abiding gun owners while reducing the magnitude of death and injury caused in mass shootings. With the memory of those killed in Columbine, Newtown, Las Vegas, and Parkland in our hearts, we introduce this bill to make communities safer."
The Keep Americans Safe Act is cosponsored by Sens. Menendez, Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ili.), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ili.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).
“High capacity magazines have been used to devastating effect in mass shooting after mass shooting, and they are not necessary for sport, hunting, or self-defense,” said Sen. Durbin. “I’m going to keep doing everything I can to put the safety of our kids and our neighborhoods ahead of the gun lobby’s agenda. I hope my colleagues from across the aisle will join us.”
“High-capacity magazines have allowed mass shooters to fire hundreds of rounds in minutes, making tragedies like the Las Vegas shooting far deadlier than they otherwise would be,” said Sen. Feinstein. “They are dangerous and unnecessary, which is why my assault weapons ban also prohibits them. I applaud the introduction of this legislation to ban high-capacity magazines and am proud to cosponsor it.”
“High-capacity magazines exist for a single purpose: to inflict the most lethal damage possible in the shortest period of time. Even if we cannot stop all killers with a gun, we can make their attacks less deadly by banning high-capacity magazines,” said Sen. Blumenthal. This week marks one year since seventeen students were murdered in their high school in Parkland, Florida – a rampage that only ended when the gunman was unable to load his assault rifle with a new magazine. In Newtown, Connecticut, eleven students managed to escape when the shooter reloaded his gun. In Parkland, Las Vegas, Orlando, Newtown, Aurora, and Tucson – how many lives could have been saved if the gunman had needed to change magazines more often?”
“How many more times do we have to wake up to the news that another mass shooting has taken place in America before we decide to act? By design, high capacity magazines enable shooters to kill as many people as possible in a short amount of time,” said Sen. Murphy. ”I’m proud to join Senator Menendez in introducing this bill. This week, as we honor the victims of the tragic shooting in Parkland, we should listen to the students’ calls for change. Banning high-capacity magazines will save lives.”
“We cannot stand by as more children, mothers, fathers, friends, and other loved ones lose their lives to gun violence,” said Sen. Warren. “It’s past time for Congress to take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in America, and that means passing bills like the Keep Americans Safe Act.”
“Gun violence is a national epidemic, and we must take action to protect the American people and prevent more heartbreaking tragedies,” said Sen. Harris. “Banning high-capacity magazines that are designed to make guns more deadly would help to keep our friends and loved ones safe as we work towards putting an end to the scourge of mass shootings.”
“On October 2017, 58 families were forever changed by senseless gun violence in America. They joined what one mother who lost a child at Sandy Hook has called an ‘expanding congregation of grief.’ Too many families across the country know the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence, and we owe it to those families to take common sense steps to address gun violence and keep Americans safe,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to join Senator Menendez in introducing this bill that would save lives and enhance law enforcement’s ability to intervene when tragedy strikes. I’ll continue fighting for common sense gun safety legislation that keeps our communities safe and saves lives.”
“High-capacity magazines are deadly accessories that are only meant to wreak havoc, and they make it nearly impossible for law enforcement to respond to active shooters,” said Sen. Rosen. “This legislation will take meaningful action to reduce widespread gun violence. We can find sensible ways to prevent gun violence while still respecting Second Amendment rights and I will continue working on these commonsense solutions so that we can keep Nevadans safe.”
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In addition to prohibiting large-capacity ammunition magazines, the Keep Americans Safe bill includes the following provisions:
Full text of the bill can be downloaded here.
The legislation is supported by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence; Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence; March for Our Lives; Team ENOUGH; Change The Ref; Coalition to Stop Gun Violence; Center for American Progress; Violence Policy Center and Everytown.
“We need the full support of every member of Congress if we are to keep our communities safe and end the nation’s epidemic of gun violence,” said Charlie Mirsky, Political Director at March Flor Our Lives. “Ending gun violence shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and we applaud Republicans and Democrats for working together to stop gun deaths in America.”
“No one deserves to be in the position where we are. Everyone should be part of this change we are demanding. We are not asking, we are not begging, we demand change,” said Manuel Oliver, survivor parent of Joaquin Oliver, a fatal victim at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “This is not a blue or red issue. A shooter won’t ask your political affiliation before killing you. We need to pass this legislation now.”
"Large capacity magazines transform guns from dangerous weapons into weapons capable of mass murder. That's why large capacity magazines are a common thread in so many high-profile mass shootings,” said David Chipman, Senior Policy Advisor at Giffords and a retired ATF Special Agent of 25 years. “If our country is serious about addressing our devastating gun violence crisis, we must start by having a serious conversation about the type of weapons we're making available on our streets. We're proud Senator Menendez and Congressman Deutch are working to address this threat today.”
“Assault-style weapons often get the attention after mass shootings, but it’s just as important to address the role of large capacity magazines. Mass shootings from Orlando to Las Vegas to Aurora and beyond have been all the more devastating because of them. They serve no purpose other than to allow someone to fire as many bullets as possible as quickly as possible, making it easier to take innocent lives,” said Kris Brown, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “We are grateful to Sen. Menendez and Rep. Deutch for their leadership in introducing this important legislation that bans these deadly accessories, and we look forward to working with them to pass it into law.”
In 2017, almost 38,000 Americans lost their lives due to gun violence. High-capacity magazines have been used in some of the country’s deadliest mass shootings:
(Sources: Mother Jones, Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.)
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March 12, 2024