House approves bills to strengthen gun background checks

The House on Thursday approved two pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening background checks on firearms sales and transfers, a top priority for Democratic lawmakers.

The bipartisan background check law – led by Rep. Mike thompsonCharles (Mike) Michael Thompson This week: Congress set to send $ 900 billion coronavirus bill to gun violence prevention groups Biden Optimistic background check legislation may pass this Congress Democrats reintroduce firearms sale background check legislation MORE (D-Calif.) – seeks to “use the current background check process” to attempt to ensure that those who are prohibited from owning a firearm cannot obtain one.

The bill passed by a vote of 227-203 with eight Republicans supporting the measure and one Democrat, Representative Jared Golden (Maine), opposing his party to vote against.

The legislation would implement new background check requirements for transfers of firearms between private parties.

Under current law, private and unauthorized vendors are not required to conduct a background check for firearm transfers, although licensed firearm vendors are required to do so. do it.

The bill would require an “authorized firearms dealer, manufacturer or importer” to first take possession of the firearm while a background check is in progress.

The legislation creates an exemption for transfers made as a gift between spouses.

While the bill was rejected by a number of GOP lawmakers, three Republicans – representatives. Fred uptonFrederick (Fred) Stephen UptonBiden Calls Biparty Meeting on Cancer Research Republicans Please Save Your Party Democrats Trick Politics GOP Fight Trump MORE (I.), Chris SmithChristopher (Chris) Henry SmithDemocrats Under Pressure To Deliver “Litigation” Labor Bill Biden May Rely On Pope Francis Visit To Iraq Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – House pulls Greene out of committees; Senate Moves Forward with Budget READ MORE (NJ) and Brian FitzpatrickBrian K. Fitzpatrick Business Groups Embrace Both Praise and Criticism of Passing COVID Relief Bill Mellman: Party Brand vs. Personal Brand Hillicon Valley: Democrats Push Facebook to ‘Take Responsibility’ placement of firearms accessories ads | Lawmakers Introduce Bill Allowing Americans to Sue Foreign Hackers | Malala Yousafzai signs content agreement with Apple LEARN MORE (Pa.) – co-sponsored the legislation.

GOP representatives. Vern BuchananVernon Gale BuchananMORE (Florida), Maria Salazar (Florida), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Carlos Gimenez (Florida) and Adam kinzingerAdam Daniel Kinzinger40 Republicans Vote Against Greene Kinzinger Motion: GOP Will Become A ‘Regional Party’ If It Does Not Change Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Delay Tactics Frustrates GOP PLUS (Ill.) Also joined Democrats in supporting the measure on Thursday.

Supporters argued that this was a necessary step to reduce gun violence and ensure guns do not fall into the wrong hands.

“We shouldn’t need a pandemic to reduce gun violence in this country. To do this would require passing common sense gun safety legislation through Congress to prevent lethal firearms from falling into the hands of those who cannot responsibly carry them, ”he said. declared the House majority leader. Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerHouse endorses .9T COVID-19 relief in partisan money vote: COVID-19 relief bill on track for House passage, Biden signing Wednesday | First New Checks From Next Week Overnight Healthcare: Study Finds Pfizer Vaccine Neutralizes Brazilian Variant | New CDC guidelines are a blow to ailing airline industry | House to vote on COVID relief Wednesday READ MORE (D-Md.) Said during Wednesday’s debate.

“That’s what HR 8, the bipartisan background check law, would do. Nine in 10 Americans support reforms to this bill. This includes a majority of Republicans and a majority of responsible gun owners. It is one of the best examples of legislation that truly reflects the will of the American people. “

But critics of the measure argue that it is a violation of US Second Amendment rights and would do little to stop the violence.

representative Thomas massieThomas Harold Massie Can Members of Congress Carry Firearms on the Capitol Complex? Republicans rally to keep Cheney in power Republicans prepare for conference meeting amid party civil war READ MORE (R-Ky.) Argued that statistics show that the majority of gun-related crimes are not committed by people trying to obtain guns legally. He added that the new regulations could prevent victims of abuse from obtaining or borrowing a gun for protection in a timely manner.

“What did the background checks accomplish?” Well the DOJ [Department of Justice] said there were 112,000 refusals in one year. Who are these 112,000 people? Well, my colleagues across the aisle would make you think they were criminals – they saved you from these criminals, ”he said on the floor.

“But how many of those 112,000 people were prosecuted for this crime of trying to acquire this weapon?” According to the DOJ, 12 to 12 in a year. Who were the 100,000 others? ”

Republicans also criticized the bill for omitting wording that would require arms dealers to alert immigration and customs services in the event that an undocumented immigrant attempts to purchase a firearm, a provision that had already been adopted in a re-engagement motion in 2019.

GOP lawmakers ultimately failed in their attempt to revise the bill using the procedural tactics of this Congress.

The second background check bill passed by the House on Thursday – the Enhanced Background Check Act, led by the House Majority Whip Jim ClyburnJames (Jim) Enos ClyburnGraham on Helping COVID-19 for Black Farmers: “These are Repairs” On the Money: COVID-19 Relief Bill on Track for House Passage , signing of Biden on Wednesday | First new checks from next week This week: Congress set to send Biden a $ 9 trillion coronavirus bill READ MORE (DS.C.) – seeks to close the “Charleston fault”.

This bill was passed by a vote of 219 to 210, with representatives of the GOP. Fitzpatrick and Smith and the Democratic representatives. Golden and Ron kindFamily lawyer Ronald (Ron) James KindFloyd strikes qualified immunity for officers Johnson says stepping down after 2022 ‘probably my preference now’ GOP single vote on reform bill House police say he ‘accidentally pressed the wrong vote button’ MORE (D-Wis.) Breaking with their respective parties on the vote.

Under the law, the review period during which a background check can be performed before a firearm is purchased would be extended from three days to 10 days.

Clyburn first introduced the bill after the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where a white supremacist killed nine black parishioners.

“Those people who were practicing their faith, their faith that taught them to welcome a stranger to a stranger, a stranger who came to their door and they welcomed into their Bible study, he sat with them for an hour. The stranger they had taken in had opened fire on it and killed nine of them, one of whom was the pastor, a former intern of mine, “Clyburn said during the floor debate on Wednesday.” This law would have prevented this gentleman from obtaining a gun.

But GOP critics have said they believe the two bills violate the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.

“I will not stay here and allow our rights to be taken away. My colleagues across the aisle say these bills will save lives. However, nothing in them could have stopped the recent massive shootings that took place in our country, ”said Rep. Ben clineBenjamin (Ben) Lee ClineREAD: Republicans Who Voted To Challenge Election Results Parties Clash With Police Reform House GOP Urges Trump Not To Support Additional Funding For State And Local Governments READ MORE (R-Va.) Said.

“Rather than preying on criminals who break the law, Democrats want to create a false narrative that will criminalize private gun ownership. Democrats will tell you that these bills fill loopholes. But the loophole they believe exists is that law-abiding Americans are even able to own guns in the first place. “

Both bills are backed by the Biden administration, but the legislation faces an uphill battle in the upper house, where they are unlikely to garner enough GOP support to meet the 60-vote threshold needed for pass.

Update: 12:48 pm