WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) voted to pass the Protecting Our Children Act (H.R. 7910), a package of gun safety measures to help stem the tide of gun violence which has afflicted the United States for decades.

“Gun violence is a uniquely American problem,” Pocan said. “There are widely popular steps we can take – steps most other countries have taken – to help stop these horrific tragedies. 321 people are shot every day in the United States, and 111 are killed. Moments of silence mean nothing without moments of action. Thoughts and prayers mean nothing if we don’t take steps to prevent future tragedies. Our children are watching. Will my colleagues in the Senate stand by while kids live in fear, or will they have the strength to finally act?”

The Protecting Our Children Act includes the following titles that take steps to reduce gun violence in this country and keep people safe:

  • Raising the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old (Title 1)
  • Cracking down on gun trafficking and straw purchases to get illegal guns off of our streets (Title 2)
  • Subjecting ghost gun purchases to background check requirements (Title 3)
  • Strengthening safe storage requirements to protect children from accidental shootings (Title 4)
  • Closing the bump stock loophole to ban these deadly tools from civilian use (Title 5)
  • Outlawing high-capacity magazines, which are designed for killing en masse and have been the accessory of choice in the bloodiest mass shootings (Title 6)

Click here to read the bill.

This bill now heads to the Senate where it awaits action.
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