DeGette moves to force House vote on gun safety measure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force member Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Task Force Chair Mike Thompson (D-CA) announced a new discharge petition they filed to force a vote on H.R. 625, the Keep Americans Safe Act. If passed, the Keep Americans Safe Act would ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of high-capacity gun magazines that hold more than fifteen rounds. 

“Congress cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the horrendous number of mass shootings,” said Rep. DeGette. “No one needs a weapon of war with the capacity to kill dozens within seconds. What the American people need is for the Republican majority to take the threat of gun violence seriously – and put a bill on the House floor to address this crisis.” 

The discharge petition stands as a powerful mechanism in legislative procedures. If signed by at least 218 members in the House, it transcends the customary legislative channels and would force the Republican majority to bring the Keep Americans Safe Act to the House floor for an immediate vote.

“These high-capacity magazines serve no purpose other than to amplify the destructive potential of firearms,” DeGette continued. “Sensible gun safety protects our collective well-being, because, as we’ve seen, someone with a high-capacity weapon can commit these shootings anywhere, anytime. So the time to act is now, and that starts by protecting our country and bringing the Keep Americans Safe Act to the floor for a vote immediately.”

Now that it’s been filed, the discharge petition introduced by Rep. DeGette and Rep. Thompson will remain open for members to sign, until it reaches the required threshold of 218 signatures.

According to Everytown, in mass shootings with four or more people killed between 2015 and 2022, high-capacity magazines led to more than twice as many people killed and nearly 10 times as many people wounded per incident on average.

In 2023, Rep. DeGette led the introduction of the Keep Americans Safe Act alongside Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL). 

Despite 2023 being one of the highest years for gun violence crimes in history, House Republicans have yet to bring this bill – or any other gun safety legislation – to the House floor for a vote.

If passed, the Keep Americans Safe Act, would:

1. Ban the sale or transfer of high-capacity gun magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds to anyone other than law enforcement.
2. Ban the possession of a high-capacity gun magazine manufactured after the date of enactment by anyone other than law enforcement.
3. Authorize high-capacity magazine buyback programs; and
4. Authorize law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, to seize and destroy high-capacity magazines possessed illegally.