news

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) made the following statement after the House passed The Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would require a violent history check for every gun sale or transfer:

“Background checks work,” said Dingell. “Many senseless tragedies could be prevented by strengthening and expanding our national background check system will make sure no one with a violent history is able to purchase or obtain a gun. Democrats and Republicans across the country agree these commonsense violent history checks are a step in the right direction. We must continue to have an honest discussion about how we can keep families, students, and our communities safe from the epidemic of gun violence.”

H.R. 8, The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 is the first significant gun violence prevention bill passed by the House in decades. The bill would require a background check for every gun sale or transfer, with some carefully defined exceptions such as gifts to family members and temporary transfers for purposes such as hunting, target shooting, and self-defense. Currently, because of a large loophole, purchase from an unlicensed gun seller – such as at a gun show, online, or person-to-person – allow the purchase to go through without clearing a background check.

 

###