While most Republicans have insisted that now is not the time to discuss legislative action on gun violence, one GOP congressman is planning to propose a bill that would limit at least one firearm accessory.
According to The Hill, GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo plans to unveil bipartisan legislation that would restrict deadly bump stocks, a device that essentially turns a semi-automatic gun into a fully automatic weapon.
As the reported noted, “Curbelo joins a growing number of Republicans who have expressed support for prohibiting the devices.”
Another high profile Republican – Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – also expressed support for such a ban on Wednesday, according to The Hill.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
“The fact that fully-automatic weapons are already illegal and this makes another weapon capable [of automatic fire], I would be supportive of that,” Johnson said of the proposal, according to the report.
Republican Rep. Bill Flores also told The Hill that he believes bump stocks “should be banned.”
“There’s no reason for a typical gun owner to own anything that converts a semi-automatic to something that behaves like an automatic,” he said.
The news comes after a handful of Democrats have already put forward similar legislation, including Sen. Diane Feinstein who is leading the post-Vegas charge in the U.S. Senate.
While it’s good news that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem to have found some gun-related legislation they can agree on, it’s not even close to enough.
Congress should act quickly to push legislation to expand background checks to include gun shows and internet sales and to ban – yes, ban – weapons of war meant solely to kill the most people in the least amount of time.
This is not about the Second Amendment. It’s not about hurting law abiding citizens. It’s not about taking away anybody’s rights. It’s about basic common sense.
If we truly care about “protecting law-abiding Americans,” then we will come together right now and reform our gun laws so that more of those law-abiding citizens aren’t gunned down at a school or a church or concert.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
