By Tessa Roy, WPRO News
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bump stocks ban and “red flag” bills, sending them off to the Senate floor where they’re expected to be voted on next week.
The red flag bill, which would give courts the authority to remove guns from people “red flagged” by law enforcement as displaying behavior that could be dangerous to themselves or others, was amended to reflect the version passed by the House. The bump stock ban was amended to include a 90 day turnover period. That bill would make owning or using semi-automatic weapon rapid fire devices including “bump stocks, binary triggers, or trigger cranks” punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
Jennifer Boylen and other members of Moms Demand Action was in the hearing room as the bills were cleared by the committee, and said she was pleased by the passage.
“It’s good that they respect all the advocacy. We worked really hard to show them how committed we are to this issue, and you don’t show your commitment by coming here once,” she said. “You show your commitment by coming here time and time again.”
Senator Donna Nesselbush said action on guns could be taken thanks to continued advocacy from both sides of the gun control debate.
“Sometimes when there isn’t agreement, there is inaction… the fact that you are all in this room and have been in this room so many times and in the rotunda and every place you all have been is part of the reason why inaction was not a possibility this year.”
