Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram

Gun Violence

Alex believes that all Americans deserve to live free from the threat of gun violence. Today, gun violence is claiming the lives of too many Americans in our streets, at our places of worship, and in our schools. In the Senate, Alex has been a staunch advocate for commonsense, life-saving gun safety reforms. In June 2022, Alex voted in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The law is the most significant gun safety legislation in almost thirty years and helps to keep guns away from abusers, improve background checks, and increase state funding for the implementation of red flag laws. However, Alex believes there is still far more to do—including expanding background checks for the sale or transfer of all firearms and banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Recent News

Padilla Statement on Islamic Center of San Diego Shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the horrific shooting that occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego: “Angela and I are horrified by the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego....

Padilla, Scanlon Announce Bicameral Legislation to Crack Down on Fraudulent Firearm Sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the gun violence epidemic continues to devastate American communities, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05) announced a bicameral bill to make the fraudulent sale, advertising,...

Padilla, Raskin Introduce Bicameral Bill to Cut Off Federal Contracts to Gun Dealers Whose Firearms Are Consistently Linked to Violent Crime

Legislation would bar government contracts with bad-apple dealers whose guns are overrepresented in violent crime data WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of...

Padilla Statement on Islamic Center of San Diego Shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the horrific shooting that occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego: “Angela and I are horrified by the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego....

Padilla, Scanlon Announce Bicameral Legislation to Crack Down on Fraudulent Firearm Sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the gun violence epidemic continues to devastate American communities, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05) announced a bicameral bill to make the fraudulent sale, advertising,...

Padilla, Raskin Introduce Bicameral Bill to Cut Off Federal Contracts to Gun Dealers Whose Firearms Are Consistently Linked to Violent Crime

Legislation would bar government contracts with bad-apple dealers whose guns are overrepresented in violent crime data WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of...

WATCH: Padilla, Schiff, Murphy, Blumenthal, McBath Reintroduce Assault Weapons Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) led the bicameral reintroduction of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, legislation to reinstate a nationwide ban on military-style assault weapons. The bill would prohibit...

Padilla Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Assault Weapons

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the seventh anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines...

Padilla Questions FBI Director Nominee Kash Patel on Lack of Independence, Experience During Nomination Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned Kash Patel, nominee for Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Padilla raised serious concerns about Patel’s fitness to lead the FBI independently,...

Padilla Introduces Bill to Cut Off Federal Contracts With Gun Dealers Linked to Violent Crime

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08) introduced bicameral legislation to prevent the federal government from contracting with federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) that have a documented history of selling a disproportionate number of...

Padilla, Deluzio Introduce Bill to Protect Voters and Election Workers at Election Centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and California’s former Secretary of State, and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17) joined election security advocates to introduce bicameral legislation to protect voters...

Padilla Statement on Vote to Ban Bump Stocks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the BUMP Act to reimplement the ban on bump stocks: “Once again, Senate Republicans have shown the country that they...

WATCH: Padilla Joins President Biden in Monterey Park to Highlight Federal Efforts to Reduce Gun Violence

MONTEREY PARK, CA — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) today joined President Joe Biden during his visit to Monterey Park, California to deliver remarks focused on federal efforts to reduce gun violence and to urge Congress to pass stronger gun safety laws. In...