Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) on Tuesday introduced the Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act of 2019, legislation that will protect Americans from the most violent, repeat offenders. The legislation reinstates a tool for prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties against violent, repeat offenders.
Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“The practice of releasing violent serial criminals has to end,” said Senator Blackburn. “Repeat offenders should not be rewarded with the freedom to needlessly victimize more law-abiding Americans.”
"Violent, repeat criminals should be behind bars, not roaming the streets threatening law-abiding citizens," said Senator Cotton. "The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act will give back federal prosecutors the tool they need to lock up hardened, repeat offenders.”
“Dangerous, repeat offenders must be held fully-accountable for their crimes and kept out of our communities,” said Senator Perdue. “With the safety of Americans at stake, it’s critical that the Armed Career Criminal Act be restored so that law enforcement can ensure offenders with an extensive criminal history serve the appropriate amount of time.”
“When prosecutors lack the tools to take repeat offenders off the streets, more crimes are committed and all of us are less safe," said Seantor Hawley. "This bill sends the message that if you commit multiple serious felonies and carry a gun illegally, you’ll be spending the next 15 years in prison."
“Our law enforcement works around the clock to keep our streets safe," said Rep. Kustoff. 'The least we can do to aid them in their mission is ensure that fewer violent criminals are released back on the streets. This bill is a common sense measure that gives prosecutors the tools to keep hardened criminals behind bars. Thank you to Senator Cotton for working alongside me to introduce this important legislation, and I look forward to swiftly passing this measure to not only protect the American people but to help our men and women in law enforcement."
Executive Director and CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association Jonathan F. Thompson said, “NSA strongly supports this legislation because it will help sheriffs across the country keep their communities safe by ensuring that repeat offenders are kept off the streets. We thank Senators Cotton, Blackburn, Perdue, Hawley, and Graham for continuing to work with law enforcement to find solutions to critical public safety issues the country faces.”
For full text of the National Association of Police Organization’s letter of support, click here.
Originally passed by a unanimous vote in the House and Senate in 1984, the Armed Career Criminal Act requires a minimum 15-year prison sentence for felons convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses, which must have been committed on three different occasions. These are the worst-of-the worst, career criminals.
The ACCA defines serious drug offenses as those punishable by imprisonment for 10 years or more. It defines violent felonies as those:
1. That have an element of threat, attempt, or use of physical force against another;
2. That involve burglary, arson, or extortion; or
3. That constitute crimes similar to burglary, arson, or extortion under what is known as the ACCA's "residual clause" (any crime that "otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another").
In 2015, the Supreme Court in Johnson v. United States declared the residual clause unconstitutionally vague and thus effectively void.
The Restoring the Armed Career Criminal Act of 2019 would do away with the concepts of "violent felony" and "serious drug offense" and replace them with a single category of "serious felony." A serious felony would be any crime punishable by 10 years or more. By defining "serious felony" solely based on the potential term of imprisonment, the bill would address the vagueness issue and remove any discretion or doubt about which offenses qualify, said officials.
The bill would give federal prosecutors an additional tool to go after the most dangerous, career criminals and would not apply to low-level offenders. Specifically, the ACCA would still apply only in a case where a felon who possesses a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) has previously been convicted three times of serious felonies, which must have been committed on different occasions.