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Update: On March 23, 2018, President Donald Trump signed an omnibus spending bill into law that contained the (unaltered) provisions of the Fix NICS Act. Texas Senator John Cornyn, one of the co-sponsors of the bill (along with Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy) tweeted the following in response: “The benefits of Omnibus to…fixing gun background check system are important and will save lives.” Thanks to everyone who took this action!
On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, the House Rules Committee will mark-up gun legislation previously approved by the Judiciary Committee. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee has elected to combine two gun bills—one good and one very bad—into a single piece of legislation, making it impossible to support.
The good bill, the Fix NICS Act, would create new incentives for states to get records on prohibited buyers (e.g., domestic abusers, the dangerous mentally ill, substance abusers, etc.) into the FBI’s National Instant Criminals Background Check system, which is queried during gun purchases. It would also direct federal agencies including the military branches to share these records with the FBI.
But the Fix NICS Act has now been merged with the “National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” a dangerous bill written by the National Rifle Association that would:
- Force states with strong gun laws to honor concealed carry permits from states with weak laws. This would individuals with a history of violence to carry guns in public in all 50 states.
- Allow individuals who are prohibited from getting a concealed carry permit in their home state to visit another state with weaker laws to get the permit.
- Make it nearly impossible for law enforcement to verify concealed carry permits from other states. The legislation would even allow permit holders to sue police officers for checking their background!
It’s unfortunate that Republicans in Congress still refuse to allow clean, untainted gun control bills to move forward, even after the horrific shootings recently in places like Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs. But that is the reality we are dealing with.
Please contact your U.S. Representative through the U.S. Capitol Hotline at (202) 224-3121 and give him/her the following message:
I was deeply disturbed to hear that the House Rules Committee will be merging a good gun bill, the Fix NICS Act, with a terrible one, the NRA’s “National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.” This is a clear violation of the agreement between the two Senators who originally introduced the Fix NICS Act, Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX). In lieu of the Fix NICS Act now being poisoned beyond repair with the language of the “National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” I am asking you to do everything in your power to make sure this combined legislation is defeated and permanently tabled. We will to return to strengthening our gun laws and saving lives once individuals of conscience control Congress.
If you don’t know who your U.S. Representative is, or want a direct-dial number, click here:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Once you have contacted your U.S. Representative, click the orange banner below to report taking action!