House Republicans are scheduled to vote on a bill this week that would loosen restrictions on gun silencers. It will be interesting to see if that vote still takes place after the worst mass shooting in US history occurred in Las Vegas.
Politico reported on September 21, “The Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, introduced by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), may come up for a House vote as early as next week. The Duncan legislation includes language revising federal regulations on silencers, which currently have tougher purchasing requirements than guns.”
According to Matt Laslo, the vote on loosening the restrictions on silencers was scheduled for this week:
Wonder if the House is going to stick with schedule and vote on the GOP bill to loosen restrictions on gun silencers this week? https://t.co/0jrjwaxR8G
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— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) October 2, 2017
The motivation for this legislation has nothing to do with sportsmen or public safety. Loosening restrictions are viewed as a financial windfall for the gun silencer industry.
Republicans already had to cancel a hearing on the bill after the congressional softball game shooting in June, but the fact that one of their own members getting shot didn’t persuade them away from the legislation illustrates that Republicans don’t care about the lives lost or changed by gun violence.
It would be shocking if Republicans voted on legislation that would make guns even more deadly this week, but the vote will be happening soon. Maybe next week or the week after, because not even the worst mass shooting in US history can stop congressional Republicans from doing the bidding of their gun industry masters.
UPDATE: As expected, House Republican leadership says the bill won’t be voted on this week, but it will be voted on:
House leadership says not on the schedule yet but it has passed Cmte. Hearing on bill was scheduled day of Scalise shooting then postponed
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 2, 2017
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
