Dan from MI
Member
U.S. HOUSE BANS GUN POSSESSION BY SEX OFFENDERS
Dear Violence Policy Center Action Network Member:
Today members of the U.S. House approved on a voice vote an amendment
offered by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to prohibit gun
possession by individuals convicted of misdemeanor sex offenses against minors.
The Nadler amendment is necessary to keep guns out of the hands of
dangerous, known sex offenders. Although current federal law prohibits the
transfer to, or possession by, a person convicted of a felony sex
offense, it is legal under federal law for persons convicted of misdemeanor
sex crimes to buy, sell, and possess firearms. The VPC worked with
House members to ensure passage of this important public safety measure.
The amendment was added to H.R. 3132, the "Children's Safety Act of
2005," a bill intended to make improvements to the national sex offender
registration program.
The Nadler amendment is modeled on the highly successful Domestic
Violence Offender Gun Ban, a provision the VPC worked hard to add to federal
law in 1996 that prohibits gun possession by persons convicted of
misdemeanor domestic violence offenses. In 2002 alone, misdemeanor domestic
violence convictions accounted for more than 12 percent of rejections
of firearm purchases by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background
Check System (NICS).
Current federal law allows gun possession by persons convicted of
misdemeanor sex offenses against minors despite the fact that many states
require sex offenders convicted of such misdemeanor crimes to register.
For example-
--New York requires registration by sex offenders convicted of
misdemeanor crimes including sexual abuse in the third degree, forcible
touching, and sexual misconduct.
--Illinois requires registration by sex offenders convicted of the
misdemeanor crimes of indecent solicitation of a child, sexual exploitation
of a child, criminal sexual abuse, and any attempt to commit any of
these offenses.
--Utah requires registration as a sex offender by persons convicted of
misdemeanor crimes of lewdness involving a child and enticing a minor
over the Internet.
The Violence Policy Center will now work hard in the U.S. Senate to
ensure that this important measure to protect children from armed sex
offenders becomes law.
Thank you, as always, for your support of the work of the Violence
Policy Center.
To learn more, visit www.vpc.org.
Dear Violence Policy Center Action Network Member:
Today members of the U.S. House approved on a voice vote an amendment
offered by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to prohibit gun
possession by individuals convicted of misdemeanor sex offenses against minors.
The Nadler amendment is necessary to keep guns out of the hands of
dangerous, known sex offenders. Although current federal law prohibits the
transfer to, or possession by, a person convicted of a felony sex
offense, it is legal under federal law for persons convicted of misdemeanor
sex crimes to buy, sell, and possess firearms. The VPC worked with
House members to ensure passage of this important public safety measure.
The amendment was added to H.R. 3132, the "Children's Safety Act of
2005," a bill intended to make improvements to the national sex offender
registration program.
The Nadler amendment is modeled on the highly successful Domestic
Violence Offender Gun Ban, a provision the VPC worked hard to add to federal
law in 1996 that prohibits gun possession by persons convicted of
misdemeanor domestic violence offenses. In 2002 alone, misdemeanor domestic
violence convictions accounted for more than 12 percent of rejections
of firearm purchases by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background
Check System (NICS).
Current federal law allows gun possession by persons convicted of
misdemeanor sex offenses against minors despite the fact that many states
require sex offenders convicted of such misdemeanor crimes to register.
For example-
--New York requires registration by sex offenders convicted of
misdemeanor crimes including sexual abuse in the third degree, forcible
touching, and sexual misconduct.
--Illinois requires registration by sex offenders convicted of the
misdemeanor crimes of indecent solicitation of a child, sexual exploitation
of a child, criminal sexual abuse, and any attempt to commit any of
these offenses.
--Utah requires registration as a sex offender by persons convicted of
misdemeanor crimes of lewdness involving a child and enticing a minor
over the Internet.
The Violence Policy Center will now work hard in the U.S. Senate to
ensure that this important measure to protect children from armed sex
offenders becomes law.
Thank you, as always, for your support of the work of the Violence
Policy Center.
To learn more, visit www.vpc.org.