'Come Together': US Dems Introduce Gun Background Check Bill
Faizan Hashmi Published January 09, 2019 | 11:44 AM
Democrats unveiled landmark gun safety legislation Tuesday five days after regaining the US House majority, seeking swift action on a measure to expand background checks on firearm sales
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jan, 2019 ) :Democrats unveiled landmark gun safety legislation Tuesday five days after regaining the US House majority, seeking swift action on a measure to expand background checks on firearm sales.
A similar bill was introduced last year by Democrats, but Republican leaders declined to bring it to a vote.
The new bill -- which has the backing of former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived being shot in the head eight years ago to the day and is now one of the nation's leading gun control advocates -- has a handful of Republican co-sponsors, and is likely to pass the chamber.
But it is not expected to advance in the Senate, which is under Republican control.
Giffords joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressman Mike Thompson, who heads a Democratic task force on gun violence, in introducing the bill, calling for "courage" among lawmakers.
"Now is the time to come together, be responsible. Democrats, Republicans, everyone," she said. "We must never stop fighting." Pelosi said that by introducing the legislation early in the new congressional session, Democrats are saying "enough is enough, by finally bringing commonsense bipartisan background check legislation to the floor." Thompson said nearly 250,000 Americans have died from gun violence, including suicides, since the Giffords shooting in 2011, "all the time while Congress stood by and did nothing.
" "But today is a new day," he said, adding that the vast majority of Americans support the measures.
The bill would expand background checks to all gun sales, closing loopholes in Federal law requiring criminal background checks when firearms are sold by licensed dealers but allowing private citizens to sell and transfer guns to one another without any background check.
Democrats have savaged congressional Republicans for repeatedly failing to take action to prevent gun violence after tragedies like the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in Connecticut in 2012, or the massacre at a Las Vegas concert in October 2017.
After a murderous rampage at a Florida high school last February left 17 students and staff dead, some Democratic congressional candidates campaigned on pledges to enact gun safety reform.
One of them, Georgia's Lucy McBath, whose son was murdered in 2012, won a congressional seat in November's election.
"By closing these loopholes and expanding background checks, we will make our communities safer," she said.
"States that have already expanded background checks have lowered their homicide rates, their murder rates and their gun trafficking."Last month, President Donald Trump's administration moved to ban bump stocks, devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like machine guns and that were used in the Las Vegas shooting.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Inflation in Punjab reduces from 37 to 17 percent: Azma Bukhari
KP assembly passes over Rs1360.37bln surplus budget for eight months of FY 2023- ..
Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah commends completion of training program for ..
Bulk stock of physician samples seized
Islamabad Police arrest 6 proclaimed offenders
RPO listens to 125 appeals of 300 police officers
Meezan Bank, Roche Pakistan join forces to combat breast cancer
Dy Chairman Senate attends flower exhibition at FG Public School
KP Assembly session postponed till May 13
Deputy Chairman Senate, Syedaal Khan attends flower exhibition at FG Public Scho ..
Tamasha to livestream ICC men's T20 World Cup 2024
DIG Operations holds ‘Khuli Kutchery’ to address grievances of citizens
More Stories From World
-
Russia attacks Ukraine's northeast in new ground offensive
3 minutes ago -
Reasons to experience magic of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival this weekend
21 minutes ago -
Paris officer 'between life and death' after police station shooting
21 minutes ago -
Rafah offensive would lead to 'humanitarian disaster': UN chief
58 minutes ago -
Taylor Swift fever grips Paris at start of Europe tour
58 minutes ago -
S.Africa's top court hears critical Zuma election case
58 minutes ago
-
Ukraine says Russia launches cross-border offensive in northeast
2 hours ago -
Champion Rybakina, home hope Musetti retire sick from Rome Open
2 hours ago -
CPEC Phase II highlights strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, industry, technology
2 hours ago -
Pandemic agreement talks near end with deal elusive
2 hours ago -
UK economy exits recession in pre-vote boost for PM Sunak
38 minutes ago -
Israeli artillery hits Rafah after truce talks end
2 hours ago