Gun Violence
Congressman McGovern believes as a country, we need to take action to reduce the amount of gun violence through common-sense regulations, including closing loopholes for background checks.
The President has put forth a comprehensive set of Executive Actions to address gun violence that Congressman McGovern believes is a very good place to start.
The President has announced that he and the Administration will:
1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.
More on Gun Violence
WORCESTER, MA – Today Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) announced that the City of Worcester will receive $327,312 from the U.S. Department of Justice to support the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) Project East, part of Worcester’s anti-gang and community policing efforts. The funding is through the FY 16 Comprehensive Anti-Gang Strategies and Programs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of the horrific act of hate and terror in Orlando last week, the deadliest mass shooting in American history, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) today joined House Democrats’ sit-in on the House Floor to demand that Speaker Ryan and House Republicans allow a vote on bipartisan legislation to address gun violence.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) called out House Republicans this week for refusing to take action to pass commonsense legislation to address gun violence in the wake of the tragic shooting in Orlando this past weekend. This followed an outcry by Democrats on the House floor on Monday, June 13th, after Republicans held a moment of silence and refused to answer questions from House Democrats about bringing up gun legislation. Congressman McGovern said these moments of silence are “becoming an empty gesture,” adding “It’s not enough.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) spoke on the House floor today about the tragic shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people and injured 53 more. Below is the text of Congressman McGovern’s speech, as prepared for delivery.
“Americans across the country are horrified and saddened by the tragic loss of life in Orlando and the senseless gun violence that caused it. What is even more upsetting is that these mass shootings have become routine. Are we really the kind of country that will accept this as the new normal?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the House floor today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) expressed outrage at House Republicans’ continued refusal to allow a debate and vote on H.R. 1076, the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015, Republican Congressman Peter King’s bipartisan bill to close the dangerous loophole that allows terrorist suspects to legally buy deadly weapons.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With House Republicans continuing to protect suspected terrorists’ ability to buy lethal firearms, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) took action yesterday to force a vote on commonsense, life-saving legislation to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat and member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, joined Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-5) and 145 other House Lawmakers in calling on Congressional Republican leaders to act on commonsense gun violence prevention laws in the aftermath of another mass shooting, this time at Umpqua Community College (UCC) in Roseberg, Oregon.