Letter received from Cornyn
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 12:32 pm
Thank you for contacting me regarding federal firearms policy. I appreciate the benefit of your comments on this important matter.
On May 24, 2022, a gunman maliciously took the lives of 21 innocent people, including 19 children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives as they grieve such a cruel tragedy. This is an incredibly difficult time for the Uvalde community, Texas, and our Nation. My office is coordinating with federal, state, and local officials to assist the people of Uvalde as they navigate the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.
Like every Texan, I want to prevent violent crime, and this begins with enforcing existing gun laws. The federal government has not adequately enforced the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendments Act (P. L. 110-180), which amended the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This law is supported by organizations ranging from the National Rifle Association to the Brady Campaign and was passed unanimously by Congress in 2008. P.L. 110-180 requires states to submit criminal history and mental health records of individuals who are adjudicated as a danger to themselves or others in order to prevent them from legally purchasing firearms. This includes felons, domestic violence perpetrators, and those who suffer from serious mental illness.
To prevent high-risk individuals from illegally purchasing firearms, federally licensed firearms sellers are required to run an FBI background check through NICS on all individuals who attempt to purchase a firearm. This system relies on the sharing of records by federal agencies and state governments to ensure individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm are not able to obtain them. Unfortunately, federal agencies and state governments often fail to upload relevant information to NICS, thereby allowing dangerous individuals and violent criminals to purchase firearms. This failure to share information had tragic consequences in multiple mass-violence events, including Blacksburg, Virginia (2007); Charleston, South Carolina (2015); and Sutherland Springs, Texas (2017). In each of these cases, a dangerous individual who was legally prohibited from purchasing firearms was able to pass a NICS Background Check, because criminal or mental health records were not uploaded to the system.
I introduced the bipartisan Fix NICS Act (S. 2135; 115th Congress), which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (P. L. 115-141). This legislation helps prevent future tragedies and ensure the integrity of our criminal background check system. P.L. 115-141 requires federal agencies and states to produce NICS implementation plans to upload all information to the background check system showing that a person is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms under current law. Federal agencies are held accountable if they fail to upload relevant records to the background check system through public reporting and prohibiting bonus pay for political appointees. P.L. 115-141 rewards states who comply with NICS implementation plans through federal grant preferences and incentives. Since the Fix NICS Act was signed into law in 2018, more than eleven million new records have been added to the NICS databases. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to build upon the continued success of this law to ensure missing records don't put more innocent lives at risk.
We can also reduce violent crime and mass shootings by taking steps to strengthen our broken mental health system. On August 5, 2015, I introduced the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act of 2015 (S. 2002; 114th Congress), which was later signed into law as part of the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-255). This law enhances the ability of local communities to identify and treat potentially dangerous, mentally ill individuals. The law includes reforms to increase the use of treatment-based alternatives for mentally ill offenders and improve crisis response and prevention by state and local law enforcement officials. The bill was endorsed by a diverse group of organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Association of Police Organizations.
On October 23, 2019, I introduced the RESPONSE Act (S. 2690; 116th Congress), which included a number of provisions to prevent mass attacks and make our communities safer. This legislation would create nationwide task forces to investigate and prosecute those who are illegally selling firearms, and those attempting to buy firearms who provide false statements as part of a background check. In addition, this bill would improve the quality and availability of mental health care by expanding assisted outpatient treatment and increasing access to crisis intervention teams. Furthermore, the RESPONSE Act would increase safety for students and teachers by promoting best practices and internet safety policies to help schools better identify and assess students whose behavior indicates a threat of violence. Finally, this legislation encourages online platforms to share information with law enforcement concerning acts of mass violence, hate crimes, or domestic terrorism. While this bill was unfortunately not enacted during the 116th Congress, I look forward to working with my colleagues to prevent violent crime during the 117th Congress.
Like you, I am outraged by mass shootings and the senseless destruction of lives. As your Senator, I am committed to focusing on the root causes of mass violence, fully enforcing current law, and addressing improvements to mental health care in America. I will continue to push for effective solutions that protect communities while preserving our constitutional rights.
I appreciate having the opportunity to represent Texas in the United States Senate. I recognize we have differing opinions on this important matter, but I hope you will continue to share your views with me regarding issues of importance to you. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
On May 24, 2022, a gunman maliciously took the lives of 21 innocent people, including 19 children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives as they grieve such a cruel tragedy. This is an incredibly difficult time for the Uvalde community, Texas, and our Nation. My office is coordinating with federal, state, and local officials to assist the people of Uvalde as they navigate the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.
Like every Texan, I want to prevent violent crime, and this begins with enforcing existing gun laws. The federal government has not adequately enforced the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendments Act (P. L. 110-180), which amended the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This law is supported by organizations ranging from the National Rifle Association to the Brady Campaign and was passed unanimously by Congress in 2008. P.L. 110-180 requires states to submit criminal history and mental health records of individuals who are adjudicated as a danger to themselves or others in order to prevent them from legally purchasing firearms. This includes felons, domestic violence perpetrators, and those who suffer from serious mental illness.
To prevent high-risk individuals from illegally purchasing firearms, federally licensed firearms sellers are required to run an FBI background check through NICS on all individuals who attempt to purchase a firearm. This system relies on the sharing of records by federal agencies and state governments to ensure individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm are not able to obtain them. Unfortunately, federal agencies and state governments often fail to upload relevant information to NICS, thereby allowing dangerous individuals and violent criminals to purchase firearms. This failure to share information had tragic consequences in multiple mass-violence events, including Blacksburg, Virginia (2007); Charleston, South Carolina (2015); and Sutherland Springs, Texas (2017). In each of these cases, a dangerous individual who was legally prohibited from purchasing firearms was able to pass a NICS Background Check, because criminal or mental health records were not uploaded to the system.
I introduced the bipartisan Fix NICS Act (S. 2135; 115th Congress), which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (P. L. 115-141). This legislation helps prevent future tragedies and ensure the integrity of our criminal background check system. P.L. 115-141 requires federal agencies and states to produce NICS implementation plans to upload all information to the background check system showing that a person is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms under current law. Federal agencies are held accountable if they fail to upload relevant records to the background check system through public reporting and prohibiting bonus pay for political appointees. P.L. 115-141 rewards states who comply with NICS implementation plans through federal grant preferences and incentives. Since the Fix NICS Act was signed into law in 2018, more than eleven million new records have been added to the NICS databases. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to build upon the continued success of this law to ensure missing records don't put more innocent lives at risk.
We can also reduce violent crime and mass shootings by taking steps to strengthen our broken mental health system. On August 5, 2015, I introduced the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act of 2015 (S. 2002; 114th Congress), which was later signed into law as part of the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-255). This law enhances the ability of local communities to identify and treat potentially dangerous, mentally ill individuals. The law includes reforms to increase the use of treatment-based alternatives for mentally ill offenders and improve crisis response and prevention by state and local law enforcement officials. The bill was endorsed by a diverse group of organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Association of Police Organizations.
On October 23, 2019, I introduced the RESPONSE Act (S. 2690; 116th Congress), which included a number of provisions to prevent mass attacks and make our communities safer. This legislation would create nationwide task forces to investigate and prosecute those who are illegally selling firearms, and those attempting to buy firearms who provide false statements as part of a background check. In addition, this bill would improve the quality and availability of mental health care by expanding assisted outpatient treatment and increasing access to crisis intervention teams. Furthermore, the RESPONSE Act would increase safety for students and teachers by promoting best practices and internet safety policies to help schools better identify and assess students whose behavior indicates a threat of violence. Finally, this legislation encourages online platforms to share information with law enforcement concerning acts of mass violence, hate crimes, or domestic terrorism. While this bill was unfortunately not enacted during the 116th Congress, I look forward to working with my colleagues to prevent violent crime during the 117th Congress.
Like you, I am outraged by mass shootings and the senseless destruction of lives. As your Senator, I am committed to focusing on the root causes of mass violence, fully enforcing current law, and addressing improvements to mental health care in America. I will continue to push for effective solutions that protect communities while preserving our constitutional rights.
I appreciate having the opportunity to represent Texas in the United States Senate. I recognize we have differing opinions on this important matter, but I hope you will continue to share your views with me regarding issues of importance to you. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator