Patrick Leahy

Leahy: Judiciary Committee Tuesday Approves Two Bills On Gun Violence

. . . School Safety Measure and Legislation To Enhance Background Checks Are Adopted

March 12, 2013

WASHINGTON  – Today the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted two additional pieces of legislation aimed to curb gun violence during the committee’s third executive business meeting devoted to the issue.

Last week the panel adopted, in a bipartisan vote, legislation authored by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to make illegal the abusive practice of straw purchasing and trafficking of firearms. On Tuesday the committee continued its progress by approving legislation authored by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to improve the nation’s background check system for gun purchases. That bill, known as the Protecting Responsible Gun Sellers Act, was adopted by a vote of 10 to 8. The committee also approved the School Safety Enhancements Act, a bill authored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) to reauthorize a matching grant program to provide federal assistance to schools to enhance safety measures.  Boxer’s measure was reported on a bipartisan vote of 14 to 4.

“The methodical and open process of carefully considering these bills, with input from all, continues to find answers and to build momentum for action,” Leahy said.  “Last Thursday we had a bipartisan vote for the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act.  That was the first legislative vote on measures related to gun violence in either the Senate or the House since the Newtown tragedy.  I want to continue to make progress on this legislation and other bills that can effectively and sensibly help reducing gun violence.” 

Leahy said the committee will meet for an executive business meeting on Thursday to continue marking up gun legislation he has placed on the panel’s voting agenda. Results from Tuesday’s session can be found online.

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