15 Apr Vice President Harris Visits Las Vegas to Discuss Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2024
Contact: Amber Falgout, afalgout@battlebornprogress.org, 775.657.0433
Vice President Harris Visits Las Vegas to Discuss Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
LAS VEGAS, NV – Today Vice President Kamala Harris visited Las Vegas to discuss the Administration’s recent rule proposal, which implements the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s firearm background check expansion. The proposed rule expands firearm background checks to online and gun show firearm purchases. This proposed rule effectively moves the United States as close as possible to a universal background check system without needing Congressional approval. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed in 2022. This law improved funding for community violence intervention programs, increased funding for Extreme Risk Protection Order implementation, closed the boyfriend loophole, and expanded background check information to include juvenile offenses for all purchasers under age 21.
Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement:
“We applaud Vice President Kamala Harris for visiting Las Vegas today to talk about the ongoing gun violence epidemic our nation faces. The final stage of implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes President Biden’s proposed rule to expand the definition of a licensed firearm dealer to include online firearm purchases and gun show purchases. This moves us in the right direction toward reducing the cost of gun violence on our families and entire communities by expanding background checks.”
“With over 115k members people killed or wounded each year from gun violence, the human cost of this issue is staggering. Families and entire communities suffer the long-term and irreparable impacts of these tragedies – physically, emotionally, and financially. Las Vegans know this all too well after we were all impacted by the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in 2017. The human cost of this mass casualty event is still being felt today by survivors and the Las Vegas community.”
“Meanwhile, the gun industry makes over $9 billion in profits each year. Year over year the cost of gun violence is getting worse and the gun industry’s profit margin grows. It’s time for the gun industry to stop profiting off the pain and suffering so many experience due to the gun violence epidemic.”
“Our generation needs a President, like President Joe Biden, who understands that gun violence has impacted communities across the country, and who will take decisive action to save lives. Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Vice President Harris and President Biden are fulfilling their promise to address gun violence and reduce the human cost of this ongoing issue. We applaud their efforts and we will continue supporting policies that take real steps to reduce gun violence in our communities.”
ABOUT BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT: White House Fact Sheet.
SPOKESPEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
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