Kuster Renews Calls for Common Sense Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

**Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle accidents and cancer**

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH), a dedicated advocate for curbing gun violence, is leading calls for Congress to pass common sense legislation to address the scourge of gun violence and protect Americans in their schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and communities. Specifically, Kuster is pushing legislation to fund research into firearm violence prevention, enhance background checks, and keep children safe. 

“As our nation reels from another school shooting that stole the lives of six innocent children and educators, we must resolve ourselves to do more than just send thoughts and prayers,” said Rep. Kuster. “It is possible to respect the rights of responsible gun owners and pass common sense legislation that will protect our children and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a risk to themselves and others. Weapons of war have no place on our streets or in our communities. These machines are designed to inflict as much damage as possible and have been used in ten of the 17 deadliest mass shootings since 2015. We cannot keep failing our children.”

Kuster has co-sponsored the following proposed legislation:

• The Avert Gun Violence Act would expand federal law by requiring that individuals convicted of a firearm-related misdemeanor be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm for three years following the completion of their sentence.
• The Pause for Gun Safety Act would require a 7-day waiting period before a buyer can take possession of a gun.
• The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2023 would fund research on gun violence prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill would authorize $50 million each fiscal year over the next five years to boost the CDC’s firearms safety and gun violence prevention studies.
• The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023 would increase the waiting period that a federal firearms licensee must wait to receive a completed background check prior to transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person from 3 days to a minimum of 10 days.

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