Originally published at: NOT SO FAST: Chuck Schumer Slams ‘Red Flag’ Gun Legislation as ‘Ineffective Cop Out’ | Sean Hannity
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Sen. Lindsey Graham’s latest ‘Red Flag’ gun proposal Wednesday; calling the legislation nothing more than an “ineffective cop out” in combating mass shootings.
“The notion that passing a tepid version of an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) bill—alone—is even close to getting the job done in addressing rampant gun violence in the U.S. is wrong and would be an ineffective cop out,” Schumer said in a statement.
“[Democrats] are not going to settle for half-measures so Republicans can feel better and try to push the issue of gun violence off to the side,” he added.
Schumer’s comments come as the bill -authorized by Senators Graham and Blumenthal- gains support in both Houses of Congress.
“A bipartisan proposal by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is gaining momentum following weekend mass shootings in Texas and Ohio that left 31 people dead. The emerging plan would create a federal grant program to encourage states to adopt ‘red flag’ laws to take guns away from people believed to be dangers to themselves or others,” reports the Associated Press.
“A similar bill never came up for a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate last year, but both parties express hope that this year will be different. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the plan,” adds the AP.
“We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms and that if they do those firearms can be taken through rapid due process,” Trump said from the White House Monday.
The ‘Red Flag’ law would allow local law enforcement and state police to remove firearms from those deemed a risk to themselves or others. The individual could then go through a legal process to retrieve the weapons if approved by the courts.
“These grants will be given to law enforcement so they can hire and consult with mental health professionals to better determine which cases need to be acted upon. This grant program also requires robust due process and judicial review. It does allow for quick action,” Graham said in the statement.
The legislation comes less than one week after two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio took the lives of more than 30 Americans simply going about their day-to-day lives.
Read the full report at The Hill.
