Brady Campaign Urges Support for Gun Violence Prevention Legislative Package

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
today announced strong support for a package of legislative proposals
introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). The three bills seek to
close loopholes in federal gun laws and restrict civilian access to
large capacity ammunition magazines.

"This important package of
legislation is straightforward, reasonable, and long overdue," said Paul
Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign. "We have only a few federal
gun laws on the books, and even those have loopholes which allow
dangerous people to get firearms all too easily."

Sen. Lautenberg's bills would strengthen the Brady background check system by closing the gun show loophole; prevent suspected terrorist from gaining access to firearms; and ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

The
package of bills comes during a month that has seen horrific examples
of gun violence. Fourteen police officers have been shot to death in
the past four weeks, and a tragic shooting in Tucson, AZ left six dead
and wounded thirteen others, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
(D-AZ).

Sen. Lautenberg's bill banning large capacity magazines is identical to a bill offered last week by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
(D-NY). It would reinstate a ban, lapsed since 2004, on the type of
ammunition magazines used by the shooter in Tucson. The House bill has
already garnered 64 cosponsors.

"There is no legitimate reason
for civilians to have 30-round magazines," continued Helmke. "They
aren't useful for hunting or self defense. And in the hands of
dangerous people, they can cause unspeakable damage."