There Should Be Stricter Gun Control Laws - Statement Of M. Kristen Rand, Director Of Federal Policy, Violence Policy Center, On Legislation To Improve And Aid Enforcement Of Federal Gun Laws, Presented To The Crime Subcommittee Of The House Judiciary Com

The VPC [Violence Policy Center] is of the strong opinion that three elements are essential if efforts to reduce firearm-related crime are to be successful. First, effective enforcement measures must be in place to prevent criminals, children, and other prohibited persons from gaining access to firearms. Second, those who violate the law must expect and receive appropriate punishment. And third, individuals convicted of felonies should be prohibited for life from obtaining firearms once they are out of prison.

Unfortunately, the gun violence debate is too often presented as a false choice. Those who argue for tougher enforcement usually insist that no new gun laws are needed. Moreover, some who support passage of new gun laws fail to take into account the essential role of vigorous enforcement of existing laws. A dispassionate evaluation of the nature of gun violence in America leads to the inescapable conclusion that we need both. That is why the VPC prefers the ENFORCE bill [H.R. 4066, a bill to close loopholes in gun laws that enable minors and criminals to get firearms and to increase the personnel needed to enforce existing laws] to the Project Exile legislation. The Project Exile legislation creates incentives for states to adopt specified minimum sentences for criminals carrying or using a firearm in the commission of a violent or serious drug-related crime. But the bill deals with gun criminals only after they have committed their crime. The Project Exile bill would do absolutely nothing to prevent criminals from acquiring firearms, nor would it prevent convicted felons from getting guns once they are out of prison.

If one steps back to ask the question whether the Project Exile proposal is an appropriate response to the massacre at Columbine High School, the limitations of the measure become crystal clear. The deterrent effects of harsh sentencing could have had no impact on Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris; two teens prepared to commit suicide upon completion of their rampage. Instead, we must adopt a variety of measures designed to strengthen, expand, and vigorously enforce our nation's gun laws. ENFORCE provides a much more balanced and constructive approach to enforcement. ENFORCE would help prevent gun crimes from being committed in the first place. It would also ensure that convicted felons would never be able to legally obtain firearms once they are out of prison.