Elizabeth Warren on Gun Control
Elizabeth Warren expresses a firm commitment to enacting significant gun safety legislation, often framing gun violence as a public health crisis demanding immediate action. She asserts that strong gun safety laws are compatible with Second Amendment rights and seeks to prioritize public wellbeing over the interests of gun manufacturers.
Her approach is comprehensive, aiming to reduce gun deaths by at least 80% through a combination of legislative efforts, executive action, and structural reforms within Congress. Warren has emphasized that current federal laws are insufficient and must be revisited and improved annually based on public health research findings.
Key components of her long-standing platform include enacting a new federal assault weapons ban, requiring universal background checks for nearly all gun sales, and establishing a federal licensing system for firearm and ammunition purchases. She also supports holding gun manufacturers legally liable for the harm caused by their products.
Timeline
- During her US Senate campaign, Senator Warren expressed a desire to renew the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
- At a town hall, she advocated for sensible gun safety measures, including robust background checks and an assault weapons ban, asserting these measures do not violate the Second Amendment.
- Released a detailed plan to address gun violence, focusing on executive action, holding manufacturers liable, banning military-style assault weapons, and establishing federal licensing.
- Reintroduced the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act, focusing on comprehensive legislation including licensing and assault weapon bans.
Actions Taken
- Legislative supportCalled for the Senate to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, following mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.
- Policy proposalAnnounced a comprehensive plan to address gun violence, including executive actions to hold the gun industry accountable and holding a stated goal to reduce gun deaths by 80%.
- Legislation reintroductionReintroduced the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act, which includes provisions for licensing, training, and regulating assault weapons.
Key Quotes
Gun violence is a national health emergency and we need to treat it like that…We need to treat it like a serious research problem, which we have not done.”
“We could do more robust background checks so that people who shouldn't have guns don't get access to those guns so easily,”
“This crisis demands big, structural change to protect kids in schools, victims of domestic violence in their homes, and Americans in communities across the country — so I'm renewing the push for my comprehensive Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act.”
Sources5
Elizabeth Warren on Gun Safety
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.