CT Resident Turns in His Assault Rifle, Urges Others to Do the Same

Rosa DeLauro's SAFER Streets Act Would Help GetWeapons off the Streets

NEW HAVEN, CT—Today in Middletown, Congresswoman RosaDeLauro (CT-3) facilitated the handing over of an AR-15 to the StatePolice. The event showed the potential effectiveness of DeLauro's SAFER (SupportAssault Firearm Elimination and Education for our) Streets Act, which wouldprovide a tax credit to those who chose to turn in an assault weapon. TheAR-15's owner is a Connecticut resident who was so moved by the Newtown tragedythat he wanted to give his weapon to the State Police and urge others to do thesame.

"On that Sunday after the Newtown tragedy, President Obamaasked us: ‘Are we doing enough to protect our children?'" DeLauro said. "And he admitted the answer is no. That must change. The SAFERStreets Act is a common-sense, constructive step to help ensure such a tragedywill never happen again.

"Assault weapons are not about hunting, or evenself-defense," she continued. "There is no reason on Earth, other than tokill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible, that anyoneneeds a gun designed for a battlefield. These weapons were used inNewtown, Aurora and countless other mass shootings across America. Andthey have been disproportionately used to kill law enforcement officers in theline of duty. They have no place on the streets or in our homes."

The SAFER Streets Act creates a $2,000 refundable tax credit($1,000 for two consecutive years) for an assault weapon owner who gives theirfirearm to state or local police. The idea was proposed to DeLauro by JoeBango, the Connecticut resident who turned in his AR-15 today.

DeLauro is a longtime supporter of stronger laws to preventgun violence. She supports a comprehensive ban on assault weapons as wellas high capacity ammunition feeding devices, closing the "gun show loophole" toensure background checks are conducted on all gun purchases and improvements toour health system so the millions of Americans struggling with mental healthissues can get the help they need.