Gun Safety

Bump stocks

After Las Vegas, Congressman Lance was one of the first lawmakers to call for a ban on bump stocks.  Leonard is a cosponsor of H.R. 3999, the bipartisan bump stock ban.  Result: The New Jersey legislature followed his lead and bump stocks are now banned in New Jersey.  The U.S. Department of Justice has also issued a rule outlawing bump stocks. 

Closing loopholes

Congressman Lance is a cosponsor of H.R. 4240, the bipartisan Thompson- King background check legislation that expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the internet or in classified ads while providing reasonable exceptions for family and friend transfers.  Result: The Thompson- King bill has 205 bipartisan cosponsors. 

Conceal Carry and Silencers

Congressman Lance voted against concealed-carry and opposed legislation to deregulate silencers.  Result: Concealed-carry has not advanced and legislation deregulating silencers was never brought up for a vote. 

Fix NICS

Congressman Lance was the first Republican lawmaker to call for the Fix NICS legislation to come to the floor not attached to concealed-carry.  Result: Fix NICS was included in the fiscal year 2018 spending bill and signed into law. 

Gun Violence Research

Congressman Lance was one of the first Republican lawmakers to call for an end to the 22-year restriction that forbids the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from studying the links between mental health and gun violence.  Lance is a cosponsor of H.R. 1478, the Gun Violence Research Act.  Result: Language in the fiscal year 2018 spending bill ended the restriction.  

Gun Violence Restraining Order

Congressman Lance is a cosponsor of H.R. 2598, the “Gun Violence Restraining Order Act” that would incentivize family members or law enforcement to petition a judge for the temporary removal of guns from people who are established to be a threat to themselves or others.  Result: H.R. 2598 has 98 bipartisan cosponsors.  

Keeping Guns Away From Mentally Incompetent

Congressman Lance was one of just two Republicans to vote to deny current and former members of the Armed Services deemed mentally incompetent by the federal government from purchasing weapons. Result: H.R. 1181 has not advanced.

Mental Health

As part of an overall effort to curb gun violence, Congressman Lance introduced legislation signed into law by President Obama aimed at expanding access to mental health services throughout the country.  Result: Lance was the first lawmaker to put a mental health bill on President Obama's desk following the Newtown shooting.  Lance's Energy and Commerce Committee secured numerous provisions into law expanding mental health care.

No fly, no buy

Congressman Lance supports “no fly, no buy” and is a cosponsor of legislation that bans the sale of guns and explosives to suspected terrorists on the Nation’s terror watch list. And Lance wants to toughen penalties against gun trafficking and straw purchasers.

Passing COPS funding into law

Congressman Lance and fellow NJ Congressman Bill Pascrell championed $100 million dollars in the most recent Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations measure to give law enforcement the type of tools to protect life and comply with priorities like NICS. Result: COPS was appropriated a total of $225.5 million in the fiscal year 2018 spending bill that was signed into law.

Strengthen Federal Gun Background Check Database (NICS)

Congressman Lance was one of 67 Republicans to support a spending bill signed into law by President Obama that boosts funding for the federal system of background checks for gun purchases.

Congressman Lance is also a cosponsor of the NICS Denial Notification Act (H.R.4471) requiring the federal government to notify state and local law enforcement when someone who is prohibited from purchasing a gun lies on the background check form in attempt to purchase a gun. 

And in response to a shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas by an individual court-martialed by the Air Force for domestic violence, Lance sent a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis requesting that the Pentagon conduct a comprehensive review of its compliance with reporting enlisted domestic abusers into the Instant Criminal Background Check System.  Result: Secretary Mattis has since confirmed compliance with NICS.

School Violence

Congressman Lance voted in favor of the “Student Teachers Officers and Parents (STOP) School Violence Prevention Act” which funds training and security measures for schools to better recognize warning signs and institutes reporting systems for potential threats.  This bill would add additional safety measures in schools in an effort to prevent tragedies like Parkland.

Lance also signed a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $150 million for the Secure Our Schools (SOS) grant program to provide state and local governments with grants for physical security measures and security training for school personnel, students and law enforcement. Result: The STOP School Violence Prevention Act was provided additional funding for school safety in the fiscal year 2018 spending bill that was signed into law.