Mayors Against Illegal Guns
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Federal Legislation

The Thune Amendment
Mayors across the country have helped defeat legislation in the U.S. Senate that would have interfered with the right of states to control their own public safety laws. The Thune Amendment would have forced law enforcement to recognize concealed carry permits issued by every other state, including states with the weakest rules. Mayors Against Illegal Guns does not take a position on the general issue of concealed carry. Instead, the coalition believes each state should have the right to use its own judgment in deciding how to grant concealed carry permits.
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The Tiahrt Amendment
The Tiahrt Amendments are provisions attached to federal spending bills that make it harder for law enforcement officers to aggressively pursue criminals who buy and sell illegal guns. The amendments restrict cities, states and even the police from fully accessing and using Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) gun trace data, require the Federal Bureau of Investigation to destroy certain background check records within 24 hours, and block ATF from requiring gun dealers to conduct inventory checks to detect loss and theft.
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The Gun Show Loophole
Currently, licensed gun dealers are required to run criminal background checks on all buyers, but a loophole in the law enables criminals to avoid these checks if they buy from gun-sellers who don't have licenses. Often operating at gun shows, these unlicensed sellers give criminals the opportunity to sidestep the background check system and easily purchase guns. Congress should close the gun show loophole.
Learn more about the gun show loophole

The Terror Gap
Six years after 9/11, the federal government can stop suspects on terror watch lists from getting on airplanes, but it can't stop them from buying firearms. Last year, the Bush Administration endorsed a bill that will close the terror gap. Congress should make it law this year.
Learn more about the terror gap

Gun Dealer Fire Sales
When the federal government has shut down a gun dealer for selling illegally, it has nevertheless permitted that dealer to sell off its inventory - without conducting background checks. It's time for Congress to put a stop to this reckless end-run around background checks.
Learn more about dealer fire sales

Employee Background Checks
Under the current law, if a person can't buy guns - because he or she has a criminal record or a history of mental illness - that person cannot sell guns either.  But the law fails to require dealers to conduct background checks on their employees, even though they already use the background check system in their stores every day. Congress should act so that people behind the counter at gun stores must pass the same background check as their customers.
Learn more about requiring employee background checks


Other Federal Issues:

Closing Mental Health Gaps in Background Checks
In the wake of the tragic events at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 was passed unanimously by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Bush on January 8, 2008. This important piece of legislation authorizes funds to states to maintain and update criminal history and mental health records in NICS, making it harder for prohibited gun buyers, like the Virginia Tech gunman, to slip through the cracks of the background check system. Although this law is a step in the right direction, it is imperative that congress appropriate full funding to ensure its effective implementation nationwide.
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HR 2296/S.941
The coalition opposes HR 2296/S.941, a bill that would harm law enforcement efforts to combat illegal guns.
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Campaign Alert

Take Action on repealing the Tiahrt Amendments at protectpolice.org.

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