Tillis cosponsors bill to address gun violence, safeguard 2nd Amendment rights

To manage gun violence across America, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on April 10 proposed legislation that would safeguard Second Amendment rights and prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands.

Sen. Tillis cosponsored the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2024, S. 4104, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to improve the availability of records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and to help address mental illness in the criminal justice system, according to the text of the bill.

“This common-sense legislation will protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, increase the availability of records to NICS to ensure those suffering from mental illness receive the care they need, and help law enforcement stop dangerous criminals,”  Sen. Tillis said. “Empowering law enforcement and ensuring NICS has access to relevant records and data will save lives and make our communities safer.”

Specifically, S. 4104 would ensure states submit relevant mental health records to NICS; direct federal agencies to annually report to Congress on the number and description of records they submit to NICS; and require the U.S. Department of Justice to explain to Congress why it has or has not prosecuted gun cases, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Tillis’ staff.

Additionally, the bill would require federal and state officials to coordinate on gun law enforcement and increase the statutory maximum sentence for lying and buying firearms, the summary says.

Among other provisions, the measure would commission a study from the National Institute of Justice and National Academy of Sciences on the causes of mass shootings, and strengthen resources to fight firearms trafficking at no additional cost to taxpayers.

The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.