ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CALLS ON CONGRESS TO CLOSE AMMUNITION SALES LOOPHOLE

Jaime’s Law Would Extend Background Check Requirements to Include Ammunition Sales

Chicago — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with a coalition of 20 attorneys general, sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging their support of legislation that extends existing background check requirements on firearm sales to also include ammunition sales. In the letter, Raoul and the coalition argue these background checks would decrease gun violence by stopping individuals who are prohibited from purchasing a gun from also obtaining ammunition.

“Gun violence is a public safety and public health crisis across the country. From my home in Chicago, to Peoria, Rockford, East St. Louis, Danville, and every community in between, gun violence impacts all of Illinois,” Raoul said. “I am committed to advocating for policies that will protect residents from gun violence. I urge Congress to support Jaime’s Law to close one of the many loopholes that can be exploited by individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms.”

Jaime’s Law is named after Jaime Guttenberg, who was 14-years-old when she was one of 17 students and teachers killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The bill would make it illegal for individuals who are already “prohibited purchasers” under federal law—including convicted felons, domestic abusers, and individuals with serious mental health conditions— to purchase or possess ammunition.

To enforce this requirement, individuals would either have to be licensed to own a firearm or undergo a background check to purchase ammunition. Federal law already places these requirements on firearms sales; extending those same requirements to ammunition can reduce gun violence and suicide.

Jaime’s Law is currently pending with the House Judiciary Committee. Raoul and the coalition are asking the committee to support the measure, and urging Congress to ensure the bill is passed to help law enforcement keep communities safe.

Joining Raoul in the sending the letter are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

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