Durbin: Congress Must Close Dangerous Loopholes to Reduce Horrific Gun Violence

[WASHINGTON, DC] – In the wake of both recent mass shooting tragedies and the daily toll of gun violence across the America, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to call for commonsense reforms to close loopholes in gun laws. During his remarks, Durbin discussed the proliferation of crime guns trafficked into Chicago from outside the city, where less stringent gun regulations make it easier to purchase firearms.

“Can’t we agree – even among those people who own guns, who value them, who use them for sport, hunting or self-defense – can’t we agree that keeping guns out of the hands of convicted felons and mentally unstable people is the starting point?”

“They did a review of the crime guns that were seized at the highest crime areas in the City of Chicago. And they found out that 40 percent of the guns used in the commission of crime in some of the deadliest precincts of Chicago came from Northwest Indiana gun shows. Why? Well, because you don’t go through a background check if you buy from certain people at a gun show.”

“And when they say, well, you know, it’s a shame they have so much gun violence in Chicago because you know they have some of the strictest laws on the books. Well, those strict laws don’t apply when you cross the state line to Indiana. And sadly, those strict laws don’t apply as they should across the United States.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin remarks on the Senate Floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition here and in standard definition here.

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