Rep. Fitzgeralds Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act Passes House
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued the following statement after his bill, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, passed the House of Representatives 233-185.
BACKGROUND: This legislation modernizes the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) by excluding “less-than-lethal projectile devices” from its definition of the term “firearm.” Under the current reading of the GCA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) considers new models of less-than-lethal equipment, such as TASER devices, to be classified as firearms due to the way an object is propelled, although they do not carry a substantial risk of serious injury or death. The current classification has made procurement of these devices, critical for self-defense and de-escalation, difficult for law enforcement. This also leads to the misclassification of police officers’ use of force, as the use of any firearm is considered “deadly force” by a majority of states.
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS: Major County Sheriffs Association (MCSA), Major City Chiefs Association (MCCA), National Sheriffs’ Association, and International Union of Police Associations (IUPA).
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.












