Issue Position: Reducing Gun Violence

Issue Position

Mary Gay Scanlon is a longtime supporter of responsible legislation to reduce the plague of gun violence. In 2000, she organized two bus loads of her neighbors to attend the Million Mom March, and she has actively supported organizations and candidates promoting common sense solutions to gun violence ever since. First she marched; now she is running - to pass sensible gun policy reforms.

Every day, 96 Americans die from gun violence. Not even our most precious spaces, our schools and churches, are immune. Many gun deaths are preventable, and research clearly shows that states with stricter gun laws have lower rates of gun violence.

Mary Gay is committed to common sense reforms that help to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, and prevent further carnage. She believes that one can both respect the 2nd Amendment and advocate for sensible and responsible solutions to gun violence. In Congress, Mary Gay will introduce and support policies including, but not limited to:

Implement Stronger and Universal Background Checks

94% of Americans support background checks for all gun purchases. Background checks are the easiest and most effective way to keep guns out of the hands of violent people and prevent gun deaths.

Close Gun Show Loopholes

The 1968 Gun Control Act allows for unlicensed, private citizens to sell firearms to any individual at a "gun show" without a background check or sales record. Eliminating this gun show loophole will prevent criminals from buying guns and decrease the distribution of guns into the black market.

Reinstate 1994 Assault Weapon Ban

We need to restrict access to weapons of war that can be used to commit mass murder. The 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban should be reinstated and ownership of such weapons by private citizens should be regulated and monitored through a thorough background check. This should include a ban on high capacity magazines, bump stocks and other modifications.

Require Domestic Abusers to Surrender Firearms

The gun homicide rate for women in the United States is 16 times higher than in the rest of the developed world. Restricting the sale or possession of guns to perpetrators of domestic abuse and those who have protection orders against them will protect American women and their families. Gun owners who have protection orders filed against them should be required to turn over their firearms to law enforcement until a judicial determination or mental health assessment is made.
Funding Research into the Causes of Gun Violence

The NRA has successfully blocked research into gun violence by the CDC and other federal entities for decades. It has blocked proper reporting of gun violence incidents to keep independent researchers from obtaining consistent and in depth data to prevent gun violence. That practice must end. We must fully fund gun violence research so that efforts to reduce gun violence can be informed by scientific research, as well as constitutional concerns.

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