Pappas Helps Pass the Protecting Our Kids Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped pass H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act, to help save lives and stop the epidemic of gun violence in our communities.

"We are not powerless to improve public safety and stop gun violence. Our kids and families deserve to feel safe at school, at their place of worship, and the grocery store," said Congressman Pappas. "I called for these common-sense gun safety measures to come to the floor because they will save lives, and I'm proud to help pass them today. We must not turn our backs to this kind of senseless violence, and I hope the Senate will join us in passing measures that will save lives and keep our communities safe.

The Protecting Our Kids Act will reduce the number of and deadliness of mass shootings by raising the age to purchase a semi-automatic weapon from 18 to 21, banning the sale of large capacity magazines, gun trafficking, and straw purchases, and requiring firearms to be securely stored when minors may have access to them.

Pappas called for leadership to take immediate action to combat gun violence last week and also called for leadership to split up the Protecting Our Kids legislative package and hold standalone floor votes on each bill included in the package in order to improve the likelihood of each piece of the package passing through the Senate.

Congressman Pappas will also continue fighting for the following legislation to become law in order to keep our communities safe, and protect kids and all Granite Staters from gun violence:

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals).Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.

The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 closes the "Charleston loophole."

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD).

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 modifies and reauthorizes through FY2026 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

The Disarm Hate Act expands the categories of persons who are prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm. Specifically, it prohibits firearm sale or transfer to and receipt, possession, shipment, or transport by a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime, or who has received an enhanced hate crime misdemeanor sentence.

The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act of 2021 creates grants for state and local governments to combat hate crimes. It also authorizes additional penalties for hate crime offenses. Specifically, it establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines.

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