Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), ranking member on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, introduced legislation to prevent child sex offenders from owning guns.  Federal law currently prohibits a person convicted of a felony from buying, selling or possessing guns or ammunition.  However, it is perfectly legal if he or she has been convicted of one or more misdemeanor sex crimes against a minor.  The Keep Kids Safe Act of 2013 would make it illegal under federal law for someone convicted of a misdemeanor sex crime against a minor to transfer, acquire or possess firearms or ammunition.

“Tonight, President Obama is expected to highlight victims of gun violence in his remarks on the State of the Union and call on the Congress to act,” said Nadler.  “In response, I am pleased to offer what should be perhaps the easiest place to start – preventing those convicted of sex crimes against a minor from obtaining firearms.  The Keep Kids Safe Act would ensure that predators who have been convicted of offenses against children are not able to buy guns.  There is absolutely no justification for permitting an individual convicted of a misdemeanor sex crime against a child to access dangerous weapons.”

This legislation covers misdemeanor sex offenders who have already shown a propensity to target children.  It is modeled after the firearms ban which applies to those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes.  That ban, enacted in 1996, prevented over 13,000 criminals from gaining access to firearms in 2008 alone, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.  The bill has the support of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Violence Policy Center. 

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