Rhode Island delegation backs bill to crack down on “lie-and-buy” gun purchases

Amid reports that federal authorities have been unable to take action against irresponsible gun owners due to vague gun licensing regulations, members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation backed legislation on Monday that aims to enhance accountability.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) called on Congress to back the Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act. Langevin introduced the legislation last month with U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Gwen Moore (D-WI).

“The Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act targets the few bad-acting gun dealers that are the source of the vast majority of crime guns,” Langevin said. “These bad actors are key contributors to the nationwide gun violence epidemic, and we must increase accountability measures to curb illegal sales.”

Under the bill, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) would be given more explicit enforcement mechanisms for gun licensing regulations that aim to prevent “lie-and-buy” gun purchasing schemes. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence have backed the measure.

“A small number of rogue gun dealers are responsible for many of the guns that end up in the wrong hands,” Whitehouse said. “Congressman Langevin is a tireless advocate for common sense gun safety, and I am proud to cosponsor the Senate version of his legislation to crack down on illegal gun sales and help prevent senseless violence.”

Cicilline noted that an average of 318 people are shot with a gun each day and that 96 of them die, which doesn’t happen in other countries. He called for a “comprehensive solution” that prevents criminal, children and those with mental illnesses from possessing guns.

“Many of the guns that are used in violent crimes in Rhode Island are illegally trafficked from other states bought legally by straw purchasers,” Kilmartin said. “We need strong federal legislation and enforcement to crack down on the few bad actors that continue to skirt the law in order to make a quick profit.”