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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Rep. Welch: Congress Should Pass 'Common Sense' Gun Laws

Rep. Peter Welch backs plan to end secrecy of settlements in cases of sexual harassment involving members of Congress
Taylor Dobbs
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VPR/file
Rep. Peter Welch backs efforts to outlaw devices that increase the capabilities of semi-automatic weapons

Rep. Peter Welch is backing legislation to prohibit the sale of devices that turn semi-automatic rifles into weapons that allow shooters to fire hundreds of rounds per minute.

It's believed that the killer in the Las Vegas shootings used several of these devices.

Federal law strictly regulate automatic weapons, such as machine guns. But there are devices for sale legally known as "bump stocks" that convert a semi-automatic rifle into a weapon that functions like an automatic firearm.

Welch says it should be illegal to sell these devices.

"What you are doing is taking a rifle and turning it into a military assault weapon,” said Welch. “ So I would favor banning those."

Welch is also supporting a plan to require background checks for all gun sales including private transactions.

"That seems like the most fundamental step that we could take," said Welch.

Both Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders also back efforts to outlaw the sale of bump stocks and they support the background check proposal.

Bob Kinzel has been covering the Vermont Statehouse since 1981 — longer than any continuously serving member of the Legislature. With his wealth of institutional knowledge, he answers your questions on our series, "Ask Bob."
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