Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) made a peculiar announcement on Tuesday: He's working with Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) to write a new law that would prohibit anyone who is convicted of domestic violence from buying a gun.
Writing a bill w/ @MartinHeinrich to prevent anyone convicted of domestic violence – be it in criminal or military court – from buying a gun
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 7, 2017
While this is a fantastic idea--it's...already a law. And has been, for quite a long time.
.@JeffFlake, I hope you have a time machine because 18 U.S.C. § 922 (g)(1)(9) already exists. https://t.co/OYaT3JXLNe
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) November 7, 2017
Good riddance https://t.co/2DGw4xRcpZ
Donald Trump Jr. mocked Flake for being "proactive" by "creating" a law that has existed for decades.
Incredibly proactive considering that law has been on the books since the mid 90s. https://t.co/li2bSEW0LE
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 7, 2017
Flake seems to know this, but referred to a nonexistent "#DomesticViolenceLoophole" that was supposedly exploited by Sutherland Springs shooter Devin Patrick Kelley.
If being proactive means closing the #DomesticViolenceLoophole exploited by the #SutherlandSprings Texas shooter, you're right. https://t.co/8S89dgaTuK
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 7, 2017
The only "loophole" that occurred in the Sutherland Springs shooting was the fact that the Air Force neglected to submit Kelley's conviction to the national database. (This is, somehow, part of a wider trend.) This isn't a loophole, it's failing to enforce existing law. This should change, and nobody is arguing otherwise.
Loopholes should be closed, when they exist. They don't here.