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Reps. Crow, Jeffries, Porter, & Stevens Introduce New Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Measure in the Wake of 8 Mass Shootings in Just 72 Hours

May 18, 2022

WASHINGTON – Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06), a Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, was today joined by Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45), and Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) in introducing a new gun violence prevention measure in the wake of eight mass shootings across the US in just 72 hours. The Accountability for Online Firearms Marketplaces Act is a commonsense measure that cracks down on unlicensed gun sales on online marketplaces, ensuring these marketplaces no longer enjoy blanket immunity and can be brought to justice for violations of the law.

The introduction of this legislation comes on the heels of a horrific weekend of eight shootings across the United States that left at least 65 people shot, 17 fatally, in the span of just 72 hours.The deadliest mass shooting of the year thus far occured this weekend in a racially-motivated attack in Buffalo. One of the attacks also occurred at a church in Laguna Woods, CA (in Congresswoman Porter’s district).

“As a combat veteran, I have a healthy respect for firearms. But military-grade weapons have no place in our communities and on our streets. If we don’t close loopholes in our gun safety laws and let unlicensed sales of weapons like assault rifles go unchecked, these horrific attacks will keep happening,” said Rep. Crow. “As a Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing another key pillar in a slate of commonsense reforms to protect our families and put a stop to the gun violence epidemic.”

“As highlighted by the sickening events in Buffalo this past weekend, our current gun violence prevention approach doesn't work. We must ensure that those who seek to do harm with a firearm cannot get their hands on a gun through online marketplaces. Further, we also must ensure that these illicit markets are held to account for the harm they help unleash on American streets. I thank Reps. Crow, Porter and Stevens for their work on this important, commonsense legislation,” said Rep. Jeffries.

“Gaps in our laws are giving online gun marketplaces a free pass to sell weapons to criminals,” said Rep. Porter. “Too many communities, including ours in Orange County, know the pain of gun violence. There must be accountability, including for retailers who sell guns illegally. I’m proud to help introduce this legislation to close loopholes that give online gun retailers blanket immunity for dangerous gun sales.”

“Last weekend, multiple tragic mass shootings rocked our nation,” said Rep. Stevens. We must act now to keep dangerous firearms out of the hands of online marketplace users who evade background checks and other safety measures. Even worse, these online weapon sellers have zero culpability if buyers harm or kill others with their guns. I am proud to introduce this long overdue legislation that would no longer give online firearms marketplaces blanket immunity and will prevent dangerous people from evading background checks.”

For more than a decade, prospective gun purchasers have been able to rely on a growing market for online firearms sales to anonymously purchase guns. The largest online firearms marketplace is Armslist, the so-called “Craigslist for guns” which describes itself as the “largest free gun classifieds on the web.”

These online marketplaces can evade basic background check laws by allowing unlicensed sellers to sell guns to anyone, without a background check, no questions asked. As a result, Armslist and its competitors have become rife with illegal and dangerous gun sales. Unlicensed sellers comprise as many as three in four sellers on Armslist alone. One NYPD investigation found that guns used in four murders and one suicide could be traced to a sale on Armslist.

As a result of this law, online firearms marketplaces will no longer enjoy sweeping, blanket immunity—a change which will prevent dangerous persons from evading background checks and other gun safety measures.

The bill has been endorsed by prominent national gun violence prevention groups including Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Giffords, the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Newtown Action Alliance and Sandy Hook Promise.

"The tragedy in Buffalo is yet another reminder that we must do everything possible to keep guns out of dangerous hands — and that means fighting back against online marketplaces that are pocketing the profits from illegal gun sales,” said John Feinblatt, Everytown for Gun Safety president.

“Firearms whose purchases were facilitated on the digital marketplace are just as real as any bought at a licensed dealer, except that we know these sales are less regulated and often more dangerous. Rep. Crow’s bill smartly removes exceptions that allow social media companies and other internet providers to turn a blind eye to these dangerous sales and practices, meaning that they will again be accountable to the American people if they negligently facilitate gun violence. Brady is proud to support this important regulatory change,” said Kris Brown, Brady President.

“Rates of gun violence are spiking from coast to coast, and too often, the weapons used in senseless tragedies are the product of illegal purchases,” said Lindsay Nichols, Giffords federal policy director. “It is far past time to hold online marketplaces accountable for their role in enabling crime and allowing dangerous weapons to pass into the wrong hands over the Internet. These websites allow people who have committed domestic abuse and felonies, who should not have access to guns in the first place, to evade even the most basic of background check laws by giving unlicensed dealers the ability to sell guns to anyone. Now more than ever, we should be making it harder - not easier - to access dangerous weapons, and we applaud Representative Crow for introducing this crucial legislation to amend Section 230 to ensure that blanket immunity is not given to these types of reckless actors. The Accountability for Online Firearms Marketplaces Act will no doubt save lives and ensure a safer future for generations to come."

Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) are cosponsors of the Senate version of the bill, which was introduced last August.

See a one-pager on the bill here.

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