Bill targets firearm background check expansion

A group of lawmakers reintroduced Tuesday a measure designed to expand federal background checks to all gun sales.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) said the Background Check Expansion Act seeks to address research maintaining as many as a quarter of all gun sales in the United States may occur without a background check.

Murphy said 97 percent of Americans agree if applicants cannot pass a background check, they should not be able to buy a gun.

“I’m proud to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act as my first bill,” he said. “Voters stood up this fall and made it clear they want Congress to do more to keep our kids safe from gun violence. We need to listen to them and pass our bill to save lives.”

The bill would require background checks for the sale or transfer of all firearms. The requirement extends to all unlicensed sellers, whether conducting business online, at gun shows or out of their home.

Exceptions include transfers between law enforcement officers, temporarily loaning firearms for hunting and sporting events, providing firearms as gifts to immediate family members, transferring a firearm as part of an inheritance or temporarily transferring a firearm for immediate self-defense.

“Support for universal background checks is nearly unanimous among Americans these days,” Durbin said, noting that 97 percent of Americans support required background checks on all gun sales, including 97 percent of gun owners. “This number is absolutely overwhelming. It’s time for Republicans to join with Democrats and nearly all Americans in support of universal background checks.”