Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I speak today in support of a new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF, rule requiring federally licensed firearm dealers in four Southwest border States to report the sale of multiple semi-automatic assault rifles to the same purchaser. This narrowly tailored reporting requirement, similar to one already in place for multiple handgun sales, will provide ATF with an important tool to combat straw purchases and the illegal trafficking of firearms, including the supply of weapons to drug cartels in Mexico. Under the rule, federally licensed dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas must report to ATF the sale of multiple semi- automatic rifles that have a caliber greater than .22 and accept detachable magazines to the same person within 5 consecutive business days. Weapons covered by the rule include AR-15s and AK-47s, military- style assault rifles favored by Mexican drug gangs. The rule focuses on sales in these four border states because they are the source of 75 percent of the firearms recovered and traced in drug-related crimes in Mexico, according to an analysis of Department of Justice statistics by the organization Mayors Against Illegal Guns. This rule allows ATF to collect information on guns that are frequently trafficked and used in crimes, improving in the Bureau's tracing efforts.…”