Bipartisan Bill Introduced in House to Expand Background Checks
by Virginia Sobol on Mar 5, 2015 • 11:31 AM No CommentsNew Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) welcomes the introduction of bipartisan legislation to expand federal background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic abusers, terrorists, and the seriously mentally ill.
The bill, H.R. 1217, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015 was introduced March 4 by Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA), Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and Representatives Peter King (R-NY), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Bob Dold (R-IL), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Bennie Thompson (D-MS).
H.R. 1217 (a.k.a. “King-Thompson”) would require background checks for private sales at gun shows, on the internet and through classified ads. The bill would ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
“We know that criminal background checks are effective in keeping guns out of the wrong hands,” said Leah Gunn Barrett, NYAGV Executive Director. “We are grateful to Representatives King and Rice for their leadership and urge all members of the New York Congressional delegation to support this common sense bill because it will save lives,” she added.
Read NYAGV’s statement on H.R. 1217 here.
Take action!
- Urge your Congressional representative to support H.R. 1217 and thank New York’s sponsors, Congressman Peter King and Congresswoman Kathleen Rice. Click here to get contact information for your Representative.