Press Releases
Representatives Escobar, Moulton Introduce Bill to Prosecute Mass Shootings as Acts of Terrorism
El Paso, TX,
July 10, 2025
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Abbey Thompson
(202-225-4831)
On June 30, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-6) introduced the End Domestic Terrorism Act, which would allow U.S. law enforcement to prosecute certain mass shootings as acts of terrorism. It would also enable law enforcement, in the wake of an attack, to uncover the broader network that supported it. Mass shootings are acts of terrorism. There is no question about that in the hearts and minds of survivors, nor in the way we talk about and mourn these nation-rattling attacks. Yet the gunmen who have taken hundreds of lives—in Uvalde, Highland Park, Dayton, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, and so many more—and wreaked havoc on our communities have faced no federal terrorism charges because such charges do not exist. “El Paso was forever changed by the actions of a domestic terrorist fueled by white supremacy theories,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “With this legislation, we’re giving law enforcement the tools they need to follow through with investigations into terrorist networks and any individual responsible for attacks against our communities. Proactive policies like these are crucial to saving lives and preventing future shootings.” “Gunmen who shoot up schools, churches, and concerts are nothing short of terrorists. The media, the public, even the President call them that. But from a legal standpoint, we don’t currently prosecute mass shootings as the terrorist attacks that they are,” said Congressman Moulton. “My bill would not only allow mass shooters to be legally treated as terrorists, but it would also expand our ability to prosecute the networks of online enablers and criminals aiding these attacks.” “On July 4, 2022, a man opened fire on a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, killing seven people, injuring forty-eight, and traumatizing thousands. My six-year-old son and I ran for our lives that day. As I followed the criminal proceedings, I was shocked to learn that our shooter would not be charged with terrorism,” said survivor and advocate Ashbey Beasley. “It’s disheartening that mass shooters like ours are rarely charged with terrorism, as was the case with the shootings at Parkland, Tree of Life Synagogue, and Emanuel AME Church. My hope is that the End Domestic Terrorism Act will ensure that every mass shooter who intimidates our civilian population through these horrific acts of violence will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The bill stipulates that a mass shooting can be considered an act of terrorism only if it results in at least three fatalities, the shooter uses a qualified semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle, and the shooting happens in one of the public, populated spaces commonly targeted by mass shooters. These additional guardrails work to ensure that the statute will not be misused to target traditionally overpoliced communities or apply unfairly to those who commit interpersonal crimes that, while horrific, don’t have terrorist intent or impact. The End Domestic Terrorism Act also:
This bill was previously introduced under a different name during the 118th Congress.
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