DeLauro Announces SAFER Streets Act to Help Prevent Gun Violence
Legislation Creates $2,000 Tax Credit for Turning inAssault Weapons
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) todayannounced new, common-sense legislation to help prevent gun violence. TheSupport Assault Firearm Elimination and Reduction for our (SAFER) Street Actcreates a tax credit to encourage the turn-in of assault weapons to state orlocal police.
"Let us be clear. Assault weapons are not about hunting oreven self-defense and they should be off the streets," DeLauro said. "There isno reason on Earth, other than to kill as many people as possible in a veryshort period of time, that anyone needs a gun designed for militarypurposes. These weapons have been disproportionately used to kill lawenforcement officers in the line of duty and were tragically used in Newtown,Aurora, and countless other mass shootings across America.
"Particularly if you are a parent or grandparent, thetragedy that happened in Sandy Hook last month is almost overwhelming. Such massacres should not happen in America and we should do everythingpossible to prevent such tragedies in the future.
"In his remarks shortly after the tragedy, President Obamaasked ‘Are we doing enough to protect our children?' The answer, headmitted, is no. The SAFER Streets Act moves us in the right direction."
The SAFER Streets Act creates a $2,000 refundable tax credit($1,000 for two consecutive years) for an assault weapon owner who turns intheir firearm to the state police. The idea was proposed to theCongresswoman by a Connecticut veteran who owns an AR-15 and wanted to helpurge other assault weapon owners to do their part to help prevent futuretragedies.
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.