Bill to expand background checks reintroduced
NEWTOWN, Conn. — Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced the “Bipartisan Background Checks Act”. The proposed background check law would help keep guns from getting into the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others.
“We applaud the reintroduction of the ‘Bipartisan Background Check Act’ in the House. Last year, Congress took a bold step forward on background checks in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Bipartisan Background Check Act builds on this progress to further strengthen the background checks system,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy on December 14, 2012. “Background checks are proven to be effective at reducing gun violence.”
Currently, Federal law only requires background checks when the gun seller is a licensed dealer. Unlicensed private sellers, including those who make sales at gun shows and over the internet, aren’t required to perform background checks on their customers. State laws that have closed the private sale loophole and expanded background checks for all handgun sales are associated with lower rates of gun violence.
“This is not a partisan issue; gun violence is an American tragedy, touching every corner of our country and destroying countless lives,” said Barden. “That’s why the overwhelming majority of voters support sensible gun policy reforms and Congress should act now to pass the ‘Bipartisan Background Checks Act.’”
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579