Good morning everybody. And thank you for attending todays hearing. We gather here today in the wake of violent acts by evil men in las vegas and southern springs, and those two places get all the attention, but there is lesser number of people have died other places as well. Today, with the help of our witnesses, we hope to learn more about how those tragedies might have been prevented. And we will discuss various proposals on preventing similar tragedies in the future. Before october 1st, 2017, few americans new whatknew what a b stock was. Then a shooter used bump stocks to fire more than 1100 rounds into a crowd attending a Country Music concert. The shooting lasted only ten minutes. The bump stocks enabled this person to fire oammunition as i he had used an automatic weapon. 58 people died. 500 wounded. It was the deadliest mass shooting in our history. Our laws prohibit the manufacturer of machine guns, for decades and decades thats been the case, and greatly restrict their sale. But during the Obama Administration the aft determined that bump stocks are legal. A number of members of congress led by senator heller of nevada recently wrote the atf to ask it to revisit its decisions. Two days ago, the atf announced it was changing its mind and issued advance notice of proposed rule making that would apply the statutory machine gun to bump stocks and similar devices. Publication of this notice will provide the you public and firearms industry an opportunity to submit formal comments to atf on the proposed rule making. We do not have any proposed regulatory text before us today. Bull i think the committ but i think the committee needs to know why it was incorrect. It is also important for the committee to understand how atf is prose go to interpret the stat torety machine gun. Under current case law the courts may give deaf rans to the atf. Depending on their interpretation, Congress Might wish to weigh in. Today, we will also have a discussion about the institute criminal background check system, commonly known by the acronym nix. Nix is the system used by those licensed to sell firearms to quickly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to buy whatever he wants to buy. Nix background checks are supposed to prevent prohibitive persons like convicted felons from buying these. Every year tens of thousands of prohibited persons are turned away from purchasing weapons. But for nix to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals, federal and state agencies must swiftly and accurately report information on prohibited persons. Unfortunately, this does not always happen as it should. The Southern Land springs shooting was carried out by an individual who should not have been able to purchase a firearm. While in the air force, devon kelly, was Court Martialed for Domestic Violence and was discharged for bad con duchblgt but because his information was not entered into the nix system as the law requires, kelly was able to purchase four weapons, after his release from prison, including the weapon he used in the southern springs shooting. Kelly killed 26 people attending sunday services at First Baptist church there in Southern Land springs and wounded 20 more. In the days following the shooting, the air force acknowledged its role in failing to report kellys conviction to the fbi. Air force failure to comply with nix reporting standards is in excusable. But i do appreciate the way the air force has moved to accept responsibility for their mistakes. And i look forward to learning more about the steps the air force is taking to make sure that every prohibited person is reported to the fbi. Nix reporting issues are not limited to the air force, however. Reports on nix in 1997 and 2015 showed severe reporting problems across the department of defense. Pa report released by the department of defense Inspector General just two days ago shows that from 2015 to 2016, more than 30,000 of convictions in the department of defense were not reported to the fbi. Other federal agencies and states can also improve their nix reporting. I was pleased to hear that my former college, attorney general jeff sessions, ordered a federal review of nix by fbi to ensure all federal agencies are reporting all required information into nix. As far as states are concerned, some progress in nicks reporting has been made in recent years, especially in areas of reporting Mental Health records. But some states, even those represented by members of our committee, such as rhode island, vermont, hawaii, and louisiana, continue to lag behind. These states reported fewer records to nixon a per capita basis than the other states, and more improvement can be made in other areas, such as reporting Domestic Violence offenses. It is clear this is a systemic problem and that there are many thousands of abusers who are not in the nick system but absolutely should be in that system. States should also report to ensure that all records submitted to nicks are complete and up to date. All of us wish that the recent strategies in texas and nevada could have been avoided. Nothing well do today or in the weeks to come will restore lives for those that were lost in those two cities. We owe it to the victims of those shootings to seriously consider what we should do as policy makers. As legislatures one of the most powerful tools we have is legislation. The problem with such a big hammer, however, everything looks like a nail. We must yield our power carefully, particularly where it involves the fundamental liberties of our public. The Supreme Court has made it very clear that laws that concern the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms are subject to heighten scrutiny. So new laws affecting firearms and firearms accessories must be narrowly tailored to address important government interests. In addition, we have laws and regulations already on the books that require nicks reporting and that regulate automatic weapons. The atf has just issued a notice that they intend to promulgate a new regulation about bump stocks based on existing law. Before we pass new laws, we should make sure that our current laws are being effectively followed and enforced. We should also make sure that existing programs designed to ensure nicks reporting compliance are fully funded and effectively run. So i look forward to this hearing. And answers to some of these questions. And, once again, ill thank you again, because witnesses go to a lot of work to appear here, thank you for what youve done to make this hearing and bring light on this subject. Senator feinstein. Thank you very much mr. Chairman and thank you for holding the hearing. And thank you for allowing senator cortez, masto from the state of nevada, so much affected by this issue, to testify here this morning. It is very much appreciated. Two months ago, we witnessed the deadliest mass shooting in our countrys history in las vegas. It was on october 1st, a sole gunman sprayed over 1100 rounds into a crowd of concert goers from the 32nd floor of a hotel room in a matter of minutes. The attack left 58 people dead and over 500 injured. Witnesses describe the scene as a war zone. Think about that, a war zone at a music concert. This was conducted by one 64yearold man with a vast arsenal of weapons. How did he exact such devastation within minutes . He had at least, i understand, 23 guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and at least 12 of something called a bump stock. Bump stocks allow a gunman with a semi automatic weapon to mimic automatic gunfire. With a bump stock device attached semi automatic weapons can fire up to 700 rounds per minute. Id like to ask you to turn your attention to the screens to a video clip that shows how these devices work. Machine guns and guns with automatic fire are already banned under federal law. Bump stocks are not. The National Firearms act was enacted in 1934 to strictly regulate machine guns. It was passed in response to the saint valentines day massacre of 1929 when thompson machine guns called tommy guns were used in a chicago mass shooting by mobster gang members. The original law heavily regulated machine guns, but later the law was updated, in 1986, to ban all future automatic weapons from private possession. There is no reason to believe that this ban should not also be applied to bump stock devices and other similar devices. While some have argued that the atf can ban or regulate these devices under existing law, the atf has repeatedly stated that bump stocks cannot be regulated because they do not fall within the Legal Definition of a machine gun. We introduced a straightforward bill to fix this, to treat bump stocks and other devices like machine guns. Specifically, the bill bans, quote, the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or position of a trigger crank, a bump device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment or accessory thats designed or functions to design the rate of fire from a semi automatic rifle. Thats what the bill actually says. Several Witnesses Today, including police chief tom manger, the president of the Major Cities Police chiefs association, will discuss how bump stock devices put us all at risk. The Witnesses Today will also discuss the despicable attack that occurred a month after las vegas, at a Baptist Church in Southern Land springs, texas. There a convicted domestic abuser who was able to pass a fbi background check and obtain four guns brutally murdered 26 people with victims ranging from 18 months old to 77 years old. I understand one was a pregnant woman with a boy child. It was an act of pure evil. We were all devastated and infuriated to find out that the fbi background check missed the gunman. He should never have been allowed to get those guns. The air force failed to provide the fbi background check system with records indicating he assaulted his wife and infant stepchild while in the air force. And i must say that i had a very fine call from the secretary of the air force yesterday, and she has taken, i think, very effective action, which i think she will outline later this morning. So this is all unacceptable. I understand that we need to look forward to the future. I also understand that it was almost five years ago to the day that america witnessed the tragic shooting of elementary children and their teachers at new town, connecticut. And mr. Chairman, i just want to take this opportunity before i end to acknowledge the fact that there are large numbers of people here today in this audience who have been affected by gun violence. So i would like to ask that they stand, and i would like to recognize the representatives from the brady campaign, the new town action alliance, moms demand action, gab i gifford and mark kellys group, the police foundation, the center for american progress, and the coalition to stop gun violence, and the National Task force to end sexual and Domestic Violence. If those representatives are here, if you would stand, please, wed like to give you a round of applause and thank you for attending this hearing. [ applause ] thank you very much. Mr. Chairman. Thank you for attending, everybody for attending, but those that have felt the tragedies, particularly. We now turn to the senator from nevada that will speak because of the tragedy that happened in her state, and any views she wants to give us, then we will hear from senator cornyn, and if senator, both senators from texas want to speak about the tragedy in their state, well do that, then well go to our second panel. You are our first panel. So, please, cortez, go ahead. Chairman grassley, ranking ste feinstein, thank you for holding this hearing and allowing me to testify. Our subjected to is difficult but also incredibly important. On october 1st, 2017, my hometown where i was born and raised, las vegas, experienced a tragedy. 58 innocent people were murdered. And more than 500 were injured after a gunman rained down fire at the route 91 harvest festival. This event now has assad distinction of being the worst mass shooting in modern American History. The human cost is in callable. Hundreds of people lost loved ones, and those who survived must not only hell from physical wounds but cope with the mental scarce. As members of the Senate Judiciary committee, you are in a unique position to take the first steps to end these sense less massacres. I ask the senators of this committee to be brave and do whats right for the victims and survivors of las vegas, Southern Land springs, sandy hook, aurora, and countless communities that want to see these reforms. Ill never forget the stories i heard walking through our hospitals and meeting with victims and our first responders. Entire emergency room and hallway floors stained with blood. A Recovery Room in one of our hospitals turned into a make shift morgue. A victims phone continuously calling from her father who would soon learn she would never be coming home. Will was life story cut short for each of the 58 People Killed that night. We have come to learn their stories of sacrifice, courage and love. We have also learned the thousands of stories from those in the crowd who did not hesitate to help others. They are our true heros. Stories like that of heather goose who is here today and you will hear from. But i also want to recognize two other survivors of the october 1st shooting who are here. Heather brown salon and christine korea. Lives were saved because stranger helped stranger. There were helpers like jonathan, despite receiving a gunshot wound to the neck, jonathan saved the lives of 30 people by leading them out of the venue and aiding them in taking cover. Other helpers like tammy an iraq war veteran stayed behind to help victims on the ground. She used her er nursing experience with the injuries, despite her best efforts couldnt save one young woman and had the heartbreaking task of telling her mother she was dead. She said, quote, ill never forget her face. I had to tell the mom her daughter was gone. As alive long las vegas, i have never seen such a profound Community Response as i saw in the hours, days, and weeks after the shooting. I continue to be amazed at the strength and the spirit that will help us move forward. Following this terrible event, i have focused on working with my colleagues on reforms that would stop tragedies like this from happening again. As members of this committee are aware, the mass shooting in my hometown was made morley that will because of a firearm referred to as a bump stock. As youve seen this is a device designed to turn a semi automatic weapon into ha deadlier weapon. I believe what we hear today will confirm these devices should be kept off our streets. I am proud to cosponsor senator feinstein gunfire prevention act, a gil that would outlaw bump stocks. I believe we must pass this legislation so the law is clear. Bump stocks do not belong in our country. We cannot and should not wait to do this through a lengthy rule making progress that could take years. The victims of the october 1st massacre and all americans need action now. I also welcome a discussion on the ways we can improve the National Instant criminal background system. Our wounds from las vegas had not yet healed when we learned of another terrible shooting, this time in sort land springs, texas chbl the tragedy event at the First Baptist church drove home we must reevaluate our background system so those who cannot have a gun cannot buy one. I am proud to coand authorize the nicks act which would fight tighter protocols to ensure the crucial information of prohibited purchasers is up loaded into the nicks database. I hope the testimony today will inform hour work on this important legislation. As a gun owner myself, i understand the importance of our Second Amendment rights. Hundreds of thousands of lawabiding nevadians own guns, it is part of the culture of our state. But my constituents also understand there are common sense steps we can take to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals. This hearing is an important first step to making meaningful change. And i look forward to working with members of this committee on the next steps we can make to make america safer. Every day, every day i think of the victims and survivors of the las vegas shooting, and every day i try to honor their legacy. Thank you for the opportunity to share their stories today. Senator, thank you very much. We usually dont ask questions of our colleagues, so you are free to go if you want to. Senator corrine. Thank you, mr. Chairman, i appreciate you and the Ranking Member senator feinstein getting us together on this very important topic. And i want to thank senator cortez and heller for your leadership following the wake of the horrific shooting in las vegas. Texas suffered its own tragedy a month ago on november 5th when a deranged gunman shot and killed 26 people worshipping at the First Baptist church in sort land springs. As senator cruz and i learned when we went down to sutherland screens the gunman shot through the exterior walls of the church while people were worshipping inside. And then entered a side door to shoot the wounded in the head and otherwise end their lives. It was a horrible and who fivic experience. But i think we need to recognize, too, that were it not for the heroic actions of steven willendorf, more deaths would have occurred. Steven willendorf was a trained instructor who heard the gunshots and ran a block away in bear feet to the scene along with the rifle and shooted on him and had him flee wounding him two. And with the help of johnny a neighbor driving down the church they chased down the shooter and made sure the rampage ended. Senate Judiciary Committee is holding this hearing today to ask what we are going to do about these horrific events. I personally have gotten little tired of the statements following this tragedies that we need to do something. D