Congressman Dan Goldman Fights to Close Loophole that Allows Potentially Dangerous Individuals to Evade Gun Laws by Crossing State Lines

The 'Closing the Loophole on Interstate Firearms Sales Act' Would Restrict the Sale of Rifles and Shotguns to Out-of-State Residents

Loophole in Legislation Often Allows Buyers to Obtain Firearms Often Without a Background Check and Not in Accordance with Purchaser’s Home State Gun Laws

Read the Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) in introducing the ‘Closing the Loophole on Interstate Firearms Sales Act.’ The bill would extend the regulations on out-of-state firearm sales to rifles and shotguns, ensuring that all gun sales are purchased in accordance with the purchaser’s home-states' laws and background check requirements. Without the Closing the Loophole on Interstate Firearms Sales Act, potentially dangerous individuals are often able to evade gun safety laws by crossing state lines to a jurisdiction with more lax legislation.

“The glaring loophole in federal gun safety legislation that has allowed individuals to purchase dangerous weapons that they would otherwise be prohibited from buying in their home-state puts the lives of our families and communities at risk,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Rifles and shotguns should not be treated any differently than handguns are when it comes to background checks and common-sense limitations on gun ownership. Until Congress can pass meaningful, comprehensive federal gun violence prevention legislation, the least we can do is ensure that all state laws are being followed properly to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands.”

Combating gun violence and holding gun manufacturers accountable are foundational to Congressman Goldman’s work to make our communities safer. This month, Congressman Goldman cosponsored a package of legislation that would establish a federal “red flag” program and strengthen state and local efforts to support the implementation of extreme risk protection order laws.  

Earlier this week, Congressman Goldman fought to regulate dangerous ‘ghost guns,’ untraceable, partially assembled weapons that are increasingly fueling the gun violence epidemic.  

The Congressman also cosponsored the ‘End Gun Violence Act’ to prohibit individuals convicted of a violent misdemeanor from purchasing handguns or ammunition for five years after conviction and called for a national 3-day waiting period on all handgun sales in the ‘COOL OFF’ Act.

Congressman Goldman is a Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and was recently named as Chair of the Dads Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Working Group.

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