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Chris Van Hollen on Gun Control
Democratic Representative (MD-8)
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Common sense measures like universal background checks
Chris Van Hollen called on Speaker Boehner to allow Congress to vote on commonsense gun laws after yet another mass shooting. Excerpts from the interview on MSNBC:Q: Your reaction to the mass shooting?
A: It's tragic. It's heartbreaking. But it's
also sickening, because we see this mounting death toll from mass casualty shootings--but also every day in our neighborhoods, in our cities--and we know there are common sense gun safety measures we can take to dramatically reduce the death toll and
we're not doing anything about it. And the definition of gross negligence is when you know you have a solution that will help prevent gun deaths and you don't do anything about it.
Q: What are the solutions?
A: If you have a universal criminal
background check to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people, you will reduce gun deaths. We know that. You should have a permit to purchase a weapon just like you need to get a license to drive a car.
Source: Afro weblog coverage of 2016 Maryland Senate race
, Oct 2, 2015
Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers.
A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. A YES vote would: - Prohibit individuals from filing a qualified civil liability action
- Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime
- Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect
- Dismiss of all civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment
- Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act;
Bill S 397
; vote number 2005-534
on Oct 20, 2005
Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse.
Vote to pass a bill that would prohibit liability lawsuits from being brought against gun manufacturers and dealers based on the criminal misuse of firearms. The bill would also block these actions from being brought up against gun trade organizations and against ammunition makers and sellers. The measure would apply immediately to any pending cases. Several specific exceptions to the ban exist. This includes civil suits would be allowed against a maker or dealer who "knowingly and willfully violated" state or federal laws in the selling or marketing of a weapon. Design and manufacturing defect lawsuits are also permitted when weapons are "used as intended.
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act;
Bill HR 1036
; vote number 2003-124
on Apr 9, 2003
Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales.
Van Hollen signed H.R.2324& S.843
Makes it unlawful for any person to operate a gun show unless such person: - has attained 21 years of age;
- is not prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving firearms and has not violated any federal firearms requirements;
- has registered with the Attorney General as a gun show operator and has provided a photograph and fingerprints;
- has not concealed material information nor made false statements in connection with a gun show operator registration; and
- notifies the Attorney General of the date, time, and duration of a gun show not later than 30 days before the commencement of such show and verifies the identity of each vendor at the gun show.
Imposes recordkeeping requirements on gun show operators and criminal penalties for failure to register as a gun show operator and maintain required records. Increases criminal penalties for serious recordkeeping violations and violations of criminal background check requirements. Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to hire additional investigators to carry out inspections of gun shows.
Source: Gun Show Loophole Closing Act 09-HR2324 on May 7, 2009
Ban "fire sale" of firearms after delicensing closure.
Van Hollen co-sponsored Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act
The Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act makes it unlawful for:
- anyone whose federal license to import, manufacture, or deal in firearms has been revoked, or whose license renewal application has been denied, to transfer business inventory firearms into a personal collection or to an employee of such person or to receive a firearm that was a business inventory firearm as of the date of a revocation or renewal denial notice; and
- anyone who has received a license revocation or renewal denial notice to transfer to any other person a firearm that was a business inventory firearm.
- Imposes a fine and/or prison term of not more than one year (five years for willful violations) for violations of this Act.
Source: H.R.93 13-HR0093 on Jan 3, 2013
Ban large-capacity ammunition.
Van Hollen co-sponsored Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
- to prohibit the transfer or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, except for its lawful possession within the United States on or before the date of this Act's enactment; and
- the importation or bringing into the United States of such a device (with some exceptions).
- Identification Markings: Requires a large capacity ammunition feeding device manufactured after this Act's enactment to be identified by a serial number that clearly shows that the device was manufactured after enactment.
- Whoever knowingly violates this law shall be fined, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
Source: H.R.138&S.33 13-HR0138 on Jan 3, 2013
Stricter regulation on gun show firearm sales.
Van Hollen co-sponsored Latest Title: Gun Show Loophole Closing Act
Congressional Findings:
- approximately 5,200 traditional gun shows are held annually across the United States, attracting thousands of attendees per show and hundreds of Federal firearms licensees and unlicensed firearms sellers; and
- gun shows at which firearms are exhibited or offered for sale or exchange provide a convenient and centralized commercial location where criminals and other prohibited persons obtain firearms without background checks and without records that enable firearm tracing.
Congressional Summary:
The Gun Show Loophole Closing Act makes it unlawful for any person to operate a gun show unless such person: - has attained 21 years of age;
- is not prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving firearms and has not violated any federal firearms requirements;
- has registered as a gun show operator and has provided a photograph and fingerprints;
-
has not concealed material information nor made false statements in connection with a gun show operator registration; and
- notifies the Attorney General of the date, time, and duration of a gun show not later than 30 days before the commencement of such show and verifies the identity of each vendor at the gun show.
- Imposes recordkeeping requirements on gun show operators and criminal penalties for failure to register as a gun show operator and maintain required records.
- Grants the authority to enter the business premises of any gun show operator, without a showing of reasonable cause or a warrant, to examine records and inventory to determine compliance with this Act.
- Increases criminal penalties for serious recordkeeping violations and violations of criminal background check requirements.
- Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to hire additional investigators to carry out inspections of gun shows.
Source: H.R.141 13-HR0141 on Jan 3, 2013
Co-sponsored background check for every firearm sale.
Van Hollen co-sponsored the Bipartisan Background Checks Act
H.R.8: To require a background check for every firearm sale. This Act may be cited as the "Background Check Expansion Act".
- It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transfer a firearm to any other person who is not so licensed [and conducted a background check].
- The [restrictions] shall not apply to any law enforcement officer, or member of the armed forces, or bona fide gift between spouses, between parents and their children, or between siblings or [immediate family members].
- Temporary transfers [are allowed] if the transferor has no reason to believe that the transferee will use or intends to use the firearm in a crime or is prohibited from possessing firearms; at a shooting range; or while reasonably necessary for the purposes of hunting.
Opposing argument from the Heritage Foundation, 2/26/2019: Heritage Action opposes the Bipartisan Background Checks Act
(H.R. 8) and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard. This legislation would require universal background checks for all firearm sales (even private) with specific exceptions. Unfortunately, universal background checks would do little to prevent firearm violence and would instead make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use a firearm. Studies show that universal background checks are largely ineffective when it comes to preventing mass shootings. In addition, most people imprisoned for firearm-related crimes access their firearms illegally through theft, the underground market, family members, or friends. H.R. 8 is poorly written and makes criminals out of many law-abiding Americans who commonly make low-risk firearm transfers.
Legislative outcome Roll call 99 in House on 2/27/2019 passed 240-190-2; introduced in Senate 1/8/2019; no action as of 3/28/2020.
Source: H.R.8/S.42 19-HR0008 on Feb 27, 2019
Page last updated: May 18, 2020