Reps. Lee And Moran Introduce Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act

Joined by Group of Appropriators to Speed Passage of Gun Violence Prevention Measures

Washington, D.C.— Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and James Moran (VA-08) introduced the Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act. The Tiahrt Amendments, which have been included in Justice Department appropriations legislation since 2004, prohibit access to data on illegal guns, hinder background checks, and limit law enforcement’s efforts to prevent gun violence.

Specifically, the Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act would repeal current provisions that:

1.       Require National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) records to be destroyed within 24 hours

2.       Prohibit ATF from requiring licensed dealers from conducting annual inventory checks to detect lost and stolen guns, and

3.       Restrict state and local authorities from using trace data to fully investigate corrupt gun dealers and traffickers

“We must treat gun violence for what it is: a public health epidemic, and no one would ever stop the Centers for Disease Control from tracking data on heart disease,” Congresswoman Lee said. “To solve this problem, we need access to vital information, and that’s what The Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act would give us,” she added.

Congressman Moran said, “Nearly 60 percent of guns used in crimes originate from one percent of gun stores. This bill gives federal, state, and local authorities the tools they need to shut down these bad actors and keep guns out of the hands of criminals.”

Original co-sponsors include Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, Mike Honda, Nita Lowey, Betty McCollum, Chellie Pingree, David Price, Mike Quigley, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Adam Schiff, and José Serrano.

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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov