Inconceivable Congress hasn't addressed gun violence
It's inconceivable to me that we have not passed significant federal legislation trying to address the tragedy of gun violence in this nation, especially because since Sandy Hook, we've seen even worse slaughter -- in Las Vegas, in Orlando.
Now, states have passed tighter laws. There have been referendums passed. There are plenty of local efforts that have been successful in tightening up our gun laws. But we need federal legislation. And my hope is that this time is different.
Source: ABC This Week on 2022 Connecticut Senate race
, May 29, 2022
Teachers don't want to be armed; nor do parents or students
U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal are fighting a federal proposal that could allow schools to use federal funds to provide guns to teachers. This comes after Trump administration officials reviewed federal academic enrichment grants to
see if the money can be used to procure firearms.
"Arming teachers is one of the most dangerous ideas that anyone could ever come up with for our school children," Murphy said. "Teachers don't want to be armed. Parents don't want schools to be armed.
Kids don't want their schools to be armed. We are going to do everything n our power to make sure that Department of Education funds, taxpayer dollars, do not get used to put weapons in our classrooms."
The plan prompted swift condemnation from
Democratic lawmakers and many educators, who accused the Trump administration of wanting to deprive students of much-needed mental health support and other resources in the interests of the National Rifle Association.
Nearly six years have passed since the shooting here in Connecticut, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 students and six faculty and staff members were killed in December 2012.
As Connecticut enacted stricter gun control
legislation in the state, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy stepped up calls for stricter gun control laws on a federal level.
He introduced an amendment that would block the Education Department from using the funds to arm schools
[as the Trump administration is considering]. "Teachers' jobs are already hard enough," Murphy said. "We ask teachers to do more today than we ever have before."
He said teachers are stretched thin today and don't have the ability to be trained
in firearms and to safely manipulate and store weapons in schools. "The Secretary of Education cares more about the firearms industry's bottom line than the safety of our kids, and that should scare parents to death," Murphy said .
Sandy Hook opened my eyes to catastrophe of gun violence
Working on this issue of gun violence, it just was not at the top of my political priority list. As a congressman, I didn't represent any of the cities in Connecticut with epidemic rates of gun violence. But it's become my singular focus now as a
US Senator because in the wake of Sandy Hook, my eyes have frankly been opened to the catastrophe of gun violence in America and the inability to explain our exceptionally high levels of gun homicide with any data points but our gun ownership rates and
our lax gun laws.
In nearly four years since Sandy Hook, the carnage in our streets has not abated. Gun homicides remain as regular as raindrops in our urban cores. And terrorist organizations, they now see the assault weapon, rather than the hijacked
airplane or the improvised explosive device, as their primary opportunity for mass slaughter in America. Stopping dangerous style military assault weapons from flooding our streets is now one of the most effective tools we have to combat terrorism.
The NRA created a fantasy world where stockpiles are needed
From the center to left of the political spectrum, the conversation about guns in America is largely about the mechanics of how guns are regulated, how they flow into the hands of law abiding citizens and criminals, which weapons should be legal, and
which ones should be illegal.
The dysfunction in our dialogue over guns [is because gun policy on] the right half of the political spectrum has nothing to do with gun laws and everything to do with abstract concepts of liberty & freedom & revolution.
The gun industry in cahoots with the gun lobby, the NRA and the Gun Owners of America, they've created a fantasy construct of a world in which citizens need to arm themselves against an out of control government.
Instead of one gun, you need 10 or 20 or 40 so that you can arm yourself and your neighborhood when the black helicopters start landing in your backyards. Oh, and you better also stockpile a year's worth of ammunition just in case.
NRA has more control over Congress than any other group
The candidates said they backed gun control legislation. Tong praised state legislation requiring that lost or stolen guns be reported in 72 hours to make it harder for their sale to criminals. "That's the kind of leadership we need in Washington, common
sense legislation," he said.
Murphy said lobbying by the National Rifle Association makes such legislation nearly impossible in Washington. "The NRA has more control over Congress than almost any other political interest group there," he said.
Source: The Connecticut Day on 2012 CT Senate Debate
, Apr 16, 2012
Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales.
Murphy signed H.R.2324& S.843
Makes it unlawful for any person to operate a gun show unless such person:
has attained 21 years of age;
is not prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving firearms and has not violated any federal firearms requirements;
has registered with the Attorney General as a gun show operator and has provided a photograph and fingerprints;
has not concealed material information nor made false statements in connection with a gun show operator registration; and
notifies the Attorney General of the date, time, and duration of a gun show not later than 30 days before the commencement of such show and verifies the identity of each vendor at the gun show.
Imposes recordkeeping requirements on gun show operators and criminal penalties for failure to register as a gun show operator and maintain required records. Increases criminal penalties for serious recordkeeping violations and violations of criminal background check requirements. Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to hire additional investigators to carry out inspections of gun shows.
Source: Gun Show Loophole Closing Act 09-HR2324 on May 7, 2009
Ban large-capacity ammunition.
Murphy co-sponsored Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
to prohibit the transfer or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, except for its lawful possession within the United States on or before the date of this Act`s enactment; and
the importation or bringing into the United States of such a device (with some exceptions).
Identification Markings: Requires a large capacity ammunition feeding device manufactured after this Act`s enactment to be identified by a serial number that clearly shows that the device was manufactured after enactment.
Whoever knowingly violates this law shall be fined, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
Murphy supports the CC survey question on Second Amendment
The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Further Restrictions on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms'
Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."
Source: Christian Coalition Surve 18CC-10 on Jul 1, 2018
Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers.
Murphy sponsored Background Check Expansion Act
H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act: This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals). Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to gifts between spouses in good faith.
Heritage Action opinion to vote NO (Feb. 26, 2019): This legislation would require universal background checks for all firearm sales (even private). Unfortunately, universal background checks would do little to prevent firearm violence and would instead make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use a firearm. Studies show that universal background checks are largely ineffective when it comes to preventing mass shootings.
In 19 of the most recent high-profile cases, the shooters bought their firearms legally and passed all the required background checks.
White House Statement (Biden`s opinion to vote YES): Gun violence is a public health crisis. Every day, gun violence--community violence, domestic violence, suicides, and mass shootings--takes American lives and forever alters many more. Last year, we saw record levels of homicides in cities throughout our country. The Federal gun background check system is a proven tool to reduce gun violence and save lives. This system, called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, has kept millions of guns out of potentially dangerous hands. The Administration encourages closing existing loopholes in this system [such as private transfers in H.R. 8].
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 227-203-1 on 03/11/2021 (rollcall #75); introduced in Senate with 36 co-sponsors; no further Senate action during 2021.