Memo On Talking Points For New Gun Control Bill

Below is the point-by-point “explanation” of the Stop Gun Trafficking and Strengthen Law Enforcement Act. What makes this more interesting is that the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have included their talking points as well. By doing so, they are explicitly telling the world – and those of us in the gun community – how they plan to push this bill. They are also essentially writing the editorials for their supporters in media.

STOP GUN TRAFFICKING AND STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2011
Section-by-Section

Section 1. Short Title

Section 2. Prohibition on Firearms Trafficking

• Amends Chapter 44 of title 18 to create a new Section 932 to address firearms trafficking.
• Prohibits the transfer of a gun to another where the individual knows the gun will be transferred to a person who is prohibited by law from carrying a gun or to a person who intends to use or actually uses the gun illegally.
• Covers organizers as well as conspiracies.
• A violation carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Conspiracies receive a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
• Trafficking kingpins who work in concert with five or more individuals are eligible for up to 25 years imprisonment.

Talking Points

• International drug cartels are trafficking tens of thousands of military-grade assault weapons from the United States to Mexico every year.
• To move guns across our southern border, the cartels have set up a patchwork network of straw purchasers throughout the United States in which the cartels pay individuals to purchase guns on their behalf.
• These guns have fueled the massive outbreak of violence in Mexico that has led to the death of over 40,000 people since 2007.
• In hearings and interviews before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, law enforcement agents said they are hamstrung in their attempts to stop illegal gun trafficking by the lack of a federal gun trafficking bill.
• Under current law, prosecutors are forced to charge straw purchasers and traffickers with mere paperwork violations.
• This bill fills that void by creating a federal firearms law that criminalizes the intentional act of moving a gun out of lawful commerce and into unlawful commerce.
• The bill is narrowly tailored to get the “worst of the worst” gun traffickers, and will have no effect on lawful gun ownership.