Democrats Prepare Rollout Of Universal Background Checks Bill

And it is totally bipartisan, because there is one Republican co-sponsor!

House lawmakers prepare rollout of gun control proposal

House lawmakers are planning to roll out a measure on Tuesday that would require universal background checks for nearly all firearms purchases, as House Democrats attempt to make good on their pledge to address gun control with their new majority.

The proposal, headlined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), is a bipartisan measure, with Rep. Peter T. King (D-N.Y.) serving as the lead Republican co-sponsor. According to an aide familiar with the package, the existence of which was previously reported in Politico, it will seek to impose universal background checks for the purchase and transfer of firearms, with some exceptions for hunting and family, but will not address an assault weapons ban.

For years, Democrats and several Republicans have been calling for Congress to take steps to better regulate gun purchases and possession, pointing to a spate of recent fatal mass shootings such as the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., the 2017 massacre at an outdoor music festival in Las Vegas, the 2016 shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, and the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. and at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.

Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), herself a shooting victim from a 2011 assassination attempt, plans to be in Washington on Tuesday to help unveil the legislation.

“Americans have spoken,” she said on Twitter. “It’s time to address our gun violence epidemic, and this new Congress will not sit silent.”

As I’ve written many times before, I do not have any problem with requiring a background check on all gun transactions, including transfers between family members. In at least one previous post within the last year I’ve written that I think there should be a background check on every firearm purchase. If you just made one last month, you’re getting another check this month. Things can change which would cause someone to fail a check. To me, getting a background check doesn’t interfere with one’s Right to the 2nd Amendment.

But it remains unclear whether such legislation could clear procedural hurdles in the Senate, which remains under Republican control. The closest that the Senate has come to passing gun control legislation expanding background checks was in 2013, following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, when 56 senators rallied behind a measure — four votes shy of what they needed to clear procedural hurdles.

Last time, four Democrats voted against it. And, yes, the NRA did oppose it

The NRA released a statement immediately after the vote that said the measure would have “criminalized certain private transfers of firearms between honest citizens.”

“As we have noted previously, expanding background checks, at gun shows or elsewhere, will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools,” NRA executive director Chris Cox said in a statement.

On one hand, I’m going to disagree with the NRA, for which I’m a member, on criminalizing transfers between family members. Just because they’re family doesn’t mean they should have a firearm for various reasons. On the other hand, what we see is a lot of shooters having passed background checks then going on a rampage. So, how do they help? Uber-gun grabbing California already has this in place, yet, still sees shootings, including by people who passed a background check.

But, you have to wonder what kind of poison pill will be included in the upcoming legislation. You know it will be there. Something that Democrats have no problem voting for, but will stop the majority of Republicans. That way they can say “look, we tried, but those darned Republicans!” I guess we’ll see on Tuesday.

They would all be best served if they worked on legislation to revamp the backgrounds check system to make sure it works properly.

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16 Responses to “Democrats Prepare Rollout Of Universal Background Checks Bill”

  1. Jethro says:

    I do not have any problem with requiring a background check on all gun transactions, including transfers between family members. To me, getting a background check doesn’t interfere with one’s Right to the 2nd Amendment.

    • formwiz says:

      Among family members?

      Boy, nice little database you guys will have when they want to just take the firearms.

    • Liljeffyatemypuppy says:

      To me, getting a background check doesn’t interfere with one’s Right to the 2nd Amendment.
      — the nignorant angry little negro fella in st. louis

      To me, obtaining a picture ID doesn’t interfere with one’s right to vote.
      But that’s just me (and millions of other fair-minded Americans).
      https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

      • Jethro says:

        You’re one of the three stooges here. TEACH typed that in his post.

        Please read his post above where TEACH typed:

        As I’ve written many times before, I do not have any problem with requiring a background check on all gun transactions, including transfers between family members. In at least one previous post within the last year I’ve written that I think there should be a background check on every firearm purchase. If you just made one last month, you’re getting another check this month. Things can change which would cause someone to fail a check. To me, getting a background check doesn’t interfere with one’s Right to the 2nd Amendment.

        It’s his first full paragraph after the first quote box. You and your brother in stupid, The Wiz, made the same rookie mistake.

        • Jethro says:

          The Wiz had the inherent cowardice to run from this thread as soon as he realized his embarrassing mistake.

          Do you think TEACH is a Negro?

        • Liljeffyatemypuppy says:

          So obtaining a picture ID doesn’t interfere with a person’s right to vote.
          Glad the little negro fella agrees.
          https://www.thepiratescove.us/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_cool.gif

          • Jethro says:

            TEACH typed:

            To me, getting a background check doesn’t interfere with one’s Right to the 2nd Amendment.

            So getting a background check doesn’t interfere with one’s 2nd Amendment rights. Glad the little white boy agrees.

  2. Kye says:

    Will this comprehensive background check include illegal gun sales among criminals, or just sales between law abiding citizens? We have all the laws we need regarding gun control. Any further laws not addressed specifically toward criminals are infringements on citizens rights. But then, perhaps that’s the democrats idea.

  3. Paul Jeanmard says:

    It’s not about stopping crime. It’s about making it more inconvenient to own a firearm. It’s about taking up time at a gun dealers shop. Its about money since fees will have to be charged to pay for this. It’s about creating a gun registry since that’s the only real way this will be effective.

    Finally, its about banning private ownership of firearms. There’s always one more improvement that needs to be made. One more thing and then we’ll all be safe. That’s why we fight. The left does not deal in good faith so everything will be opposed. The left knows none of these things will work. It’s just an excuse to push towards the final ban.

  4. Deserttrek says:

    the illegal alien who murdered the cop inn California wasn’t allowed ot have a handgun. Lots of laws were there to say no.
    Blood is on the hands of ALL politicians who support illegal aliens

  5. Jethro says:

    The Wiz and The Puppy both attacked TEACH’s position on universal background checks but now refuse to discuss it.

    Run Away! Run Away! Is it hypocrisy or cowardice? LOL.

  6. Professor Hale says:

    Great idea.
    In fact, it is so great, we shouldn’t limit it to just guns. We should all have a Biometric ID card that has our rights listed on them with little check marks next to the rights you still have and red “X” next to the rights someone else doesn’t think you deserve. Voting? Check. Guns? “X”, your local lawmakers don’t think you really “need” this. Free speech? “X”. Sorry. You lost free speech because of that Twitter post you did last year. Free Association? “X”, you lost that one in 1964 along with everyone else. Good news, you still are free to not have troops quartered in your home.
    Whenever your status changes, you have to turn in your old card and get a new one. Simple.

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