Hirono Intros Bill to Close Loophole That Allowed Texas Shooter to Buy a Gun Despite Military Charge of Domestic Violence

Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) on Wednesday introduced the Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, legislation to close a loophole in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) that enables convicted abusers to purchase firearms. Federal law mandates that those convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not allowed to purchase a firearm. However, under the current UCMJ, a domestic violence conviction is categorized as assault. This loophole in terminology means that these convictions are rarely reported under the federal law that keeps those convicted of domestic violence charges from buying a gun. Hirono’s bill would create a charge of domestic violence under the UCMJ and require that convictions be reported to federal databases that would keep abusers from purchasing firearms within three days. “This bill would close this dangerous loophole and could help prevent mass shootings like last week’s tragedy in Texas from happening again,” Hirono said. Get more here.