As reported by the New York Times:
House Democrats are poised this week to adopt legislation requiring background checks for all gun purchasers, the first major expansion of gun control laws in a quarter century and the opening salvo in a broader drive to address an issue that once sharply divided the party.
In back-to-back votes, the House will take up two separate background check measures. On Wednesday it will consider the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would require background checks for all firearm sales, including those sold at gun shows and online. On Thursday it will turn to the Enhanced Background Checks Act, which would extend the time allotted for the F.B.I. to conduct background checks.
The action in the House reflects dramatic changes in the political climate over guns that culminated with last year’s midterm elections. A string of mass shootings, coupled with student-led activism after last year’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., produced a wave of Democratic candidates — including some from Republican-leaning districts — who ran and won while calling for limits on access to guns.
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“It’s a real moment for the nation,” said one of those Democrats, Representative Lucy McBath of Georgia, who began advocating for gun control after her 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was shot dead in 2012. “We’re at a critical mass now where families are just saying they’ve had enough.”
Both measures face dim prospects in the Republican-controlled Senate. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 3 Republican, said Tuesday it was “unlikely” the Senate would take them up.
But this week’s House action is still significant. The last time Congress passed major gun control legislation was 1994, when an assault weapons ban was enacted, along with the so-called Brady Bill, which required background checks on most gun sales.
Full original story: www.nytimes.com
Subscriber Comments
Comment by:
10MMMaybe someone can help me out. I have purchased firearms at gun shows and have bought firearms over the internet.
At the gun show, they do background checks on the spot. On internet sales my purchase is sent to an FFL holder and a background check is done prior to the firearm being released to me.
What is this legislation going to do any differently ?
*The only area I can see a bill like this having any effect would be when it comes to private sales. I do not believe this was even addressed in the bill.
These people would have the AMERICAN Public believe buying a firearm is ad easy as getting gum out of a gumball machine.
This Bill will not affect criminals or crime. I also do not see how this would curve the type of shootings they are using to push all of their gun control lies.
Comment by:
bulletbbad1If this passes as a new law its not a bad law but it wont make one tiny bit of difference as to psychos and criminals having weapons,the democrat leaders know this but thats not what its about anyway,all the protestors and young people need to learn to read,go back before WW2 and start reading about the relationshipp of the germans and the jewish people till after ww2 was over,its going on as we speak,while you protest for laws that will do nothing the rest of us are getting ready for the big dance,GOD bless us all!!