Press Releases

Today, the House Judiciary Committee passed a series of bills to help respond to gun violence -- H.R. 1186, the Keep Americans Safe Act passed by a vote of 23-16; H.R. 1236, the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019, amended to also include provisions from H.R. 3076, the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, passed by a vote of 22-16; and H.R. 2708, the Disarm Hate Act passed by a vote of 23-15.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) issued the following statement: 

“Today’s historic Committee passage of critical gun violence prevention legislation is a victory for all Americans. House Democrats continue to make gun violence prevention a top priority. Senate Republicans have failed to act on bipartisan gun safety bills already passed by the House. It’s time for the Senate to finally act to pass bipartisan background check legislation and additional bills to help save lives.” 

H.R.1186, the Keep Americans Safe Act passed by a vote of 23-16. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch, would ban high capacity ammunition magazines. These magazines are a critical feature that makes many assault weapons particularly lethal.

H.R. 1236, the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019 passed by a vote of 22-16. This legislation introduced by Rep. Salud Carbajal and amended to include H.R. 3076, similar legislation by Rep. Lucy McBath, provides incentives through grants for states to adopt laws providing for Extreme Risk Protection Orders to prevent those deemed a risk to themselves or others from accessing firearms. The legislation also establishes a procedure for obtaining Extreme Risk Protection Orders in federal court. 

H.R.2708, the Disarm Hate Act passed by a vote of 23-15. The legislation, introduced by Rep. David Cicilline, includes those convicted of violent misdemeanor hate crimes in the list of categories of individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms, and who would be prohibited from doing so through background checks.

On February 6, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee held a historic gun violence prevention hearing. Watch here. 

On February 13, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 by a vote of 23-15 and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019 by a vote of 21-14. The full House passed these bills on February 28, 2019.