ARS Responds To House Appropriations Committee Markup Of FY18 Commerce, Justice, Science Bill

July 13, 2017

July 13, 2017 — Today, Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS), the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, issued the below statement following the House Appropriations Committee markup of the FY18 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill includes ARS-suggested language encouraging states to consider utilizing funding provided through the Crime Victims Fund to establish or expand hospital-based violence intervention programs, which are proven to help reduce violence. The bill also includes $73 million for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is consistent with the FY17 level, and $1.3 billion for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which is $35 million above the FY17 enacted level. However, the bill also contains several harmful “riders” that will hinder the enforcement of existing laws. Most notably, the bill includes a rider that would hinder ATF’s ability to identify potential gun traffickers. The Committee rejected an amendment along party lines that would have closed the “terror gap” loophole that lets known or suspected terrorists buy guns.

Robin Lloyd, Director of Government Affairs, Americans for Responsible Solutions:

“We are pleased to see that this bill includes ARS-suggested language that encourages states to consider using funding that is made available through the Crime Victims Fund to establish or expand hospital-based violence intervention programs, which are proven to help reduce urban gun violence. This provision will not only allow more firearms assault victims to receive the services they need, it will save lives in at-risk communities. “This bill also shows there is a clear bipartisan commitment to funding our nation’s background check system and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which helps keep guns out of dangerous hands, protect our communities and save lives. We hope Republicans and Democrats will continue to support our nation’s background check system that is only as strong as the records it contains. “While we’re happy to see these critical investments, Congress should be making it easier for ATF to address gun violence by repealing current riders, not harder. As the House and Senate debate this bill, Americans for Responsible Solutions is committed to repealing dangerous riders and urging our elected leaders to invest in programs that make all Americans safer.”

About Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs & Urban Gun Violence

The bill’s report also contains language acknowledging the importance of hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) that have effectively reduced urban gun violence. Specifically, the bill encourages states to use money from the Crime Victims Fund for hospital-based violence intervention programs that help to break the cycle of urban gun violence. Americans for Responsible Solutions and its partner organization the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence have long advocated for HVIPs, which save lives and make urban communities safer.

About The Harmful Gun Riders In The CJS Bill

Section 537 would hinder the ATF’s ability to fight gun trafficking in Mexico by preventing ATF from requiring gun dealers to report multiple sales of certain weapons to ATF. As a result, this rider would make it easier for gun traffickers to buy certain semiautomatic rifles, which are preferred by the Mexican drug cartels.

Section 530 would make permanent a rider that prohibits ATF from denying an application to import a new model of shotgun. This would limit the ATF’s ability to minimize the risk of dangerous, serviceable shotguns from entering the United States and potentially ending up the in the hands of criminals.

Section 517 would make permanent a rider that prohibits ATF from denying an application to import U.S. origin curios and relics. “Curios and relics” are firearms that are of special interest to collectors, including those manufactured more than 50 years ago. Many dangerous assault rifles were manufactured for military use before 1967 and therefore fall within the definition of curios and relics.