Hillary Clinton on Monday outlined a set of commonsense reforms that she would seek to enact as president – and pledged to pursue reforms through executive action if Congress fails to cooperate.
As part of her announcement, Clinton said she would fight for comprehensive background checks, which more than 90 percent of Americans support. Notably, she said she would even be willing to take administrative action to tighten the gun show and Internet sales loophole if legislation stalled.
In addition, Clinton would hold gun dealers and manufacturers fully accountable if they endanger Americans by repealing the law that grants them immunity from lawsuits, and would also keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, other violent criminals, and the severely mentally ill.
Responding to a voter question during an NBC Today Show town hall in New Hampshire Monday morning, Clinton said, “I am determined to do something about it, and I will try in every way I can to get those guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.”
To help prevent future senseless gun deaths, Clinton’s plan would close the “Charleston Loophole,” which allows a gun sale to proceed without a completed background check if that check is not complete within three days. The alleged Charleston shooter had a federal criminal record but was able to purchase a gun precisely because of this loophole. She also called for prohibiting all domestic abusers from buying and possessing guns.
These proposals continue Clinton’s long fight to prevent gun violence. As Senator, she cosponsored and voted for legislation to extend and reinstate the assault weapons ban, as well as legislation to close the gun show loophole. As First Lady of the United States, Clinton strongly defended the Brady Bill and convened a White House Summit on School Violence after the Columbine tragedy.
For a fact sheet detailing Clinton’s proposals to tackle gun violence in our communities, click here.