New York Republican Rep. Peter King said Tuesday that he will introduce legislation to ban the carrying of any firearm within 1,000 feet of what he described as “high-profile government officials.”
“It is imperative that we do all that we can to give law enforcement the tools they need to ensure the safety of New Yorkers and prevent an attack before it happens,” King said during a press conference with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “That is why, as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Illegal Guns, I will be introducing legislation that would make it illegal to knowingly carry a gun within a 1,000 feet of certain high-profile government officials.”
Advocates are calling for stricter federal control over firearm ownership and for more restrictions on public access to officeholders in the wake of Saturday’s shooting in Tucson, Ariz. that killed six and severely injured Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
This week, at least two representatives, Republican Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Democrat Heath Shuler of North Carolina, announced they would start carrying a gun during public events. King’s spokesman did not immediately respond when asked if there would be an exemption for members of Congress.