Release from Congresswoman Axne
This week, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and a bipartisan majority of the House voted to address gun violence and mass shootings by strengthening safe storage requirements, raising the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21, temporarily removing firearms from individuals who are risks to themselves or others, and other common-sense solutions.
“We’ve seen too many horrors unfold in recent weeks – from children and teachers shot and killed at an elementary school in Texas to two young women tragically gunned down in a church parking lot here in Iowa,” Rep. Axne said. “These types of shootings have been unaddressed for far too long and it is past time for Congress to act on common sense gun legislation. I cast my vote along with a bipartisan majority this week to protect our children and our communities by preventing teens and at-risk individuals from getting their hands on semi-automatic weapons, and restricting bump stocks and high capacity magazines. The Senate must act now to keep Americans safe.”
The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2022 will allow family members and law enforcement officers to petition a federal court for an extreme risk protection order to temporarily remove access to firearms from an individual who is deemed by the court to be a danger to themselves or others.
Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently have extreme risk protection order laws that have been proven to save lives. This bill will also support grant funding for states that choose to adopt similar laws.
In addition, Rep. Axne passed the Protecting Our Kids Act with bipartisan support, which includes several key provisions that will reduce gun violence by:
- Raising the purchasing age for certain semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old, matching the requirement for handguns
- Cracking down on gun trafficking and straw purchases to get illegal guns off of the streets
- Closing the ghost gun loophole that currently allows for untraceable and unregistered firearms to be sold
- Strengthening safe storage requirements to protect children from accidental shootings
- Outlawing bump stocks and high-capacity magazines for civilian use
Last March, Rep. Axne voted for H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Both bills passed with bipartisan support and await Senate action.
