What was really in the background check bill

House passes bill to expand background checks for gun sales. He is joined by, from left, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Tex. Lucy McBath, D-Ga. Mike Thompson, D-Calif. Scott Applewhite. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The Associated Press. All rights reserved. And there is promising data — in states where universal background checks have not been passed, Giffords found guns used in crimes were exported across state lines at a 30 percent higher rate than in those with universal background checks.

Eighty percent of guns obtained for criminal purposes were acquired through unlicensed sellers, according to Giffords. In addition, passing universal background checks would raise the minimum requirements for states, bringing them to an equal playing field — which is critical for a problem like gun violence, in which guns used in crimes are often bought in states that have not strengthened their gun laws past the federal standard.

Twenty-two states and Washington, DC, currently have universal background checks in place. But buyers often cross state lines to acquire firearms — Illinois, for example, has relatively strong gun laws, but a City of Chicago report found that 60 percent of crime guns come from out-of-state. Barring a new wave of Republican support or filibuster removal, universal background checks seem poised to fail in the Senate, just as background check expansions and assault rifle bans did in , another universal background check bill and a ban on suspected terrorists buying guns did in , and tightened background checks did in A few Republicans, including Sen.

Joe Manchin D-WV that did not pass, have been open to gun control. But getting 10 members of the GOP to buck the party line is a different story. But any path to 10 Republicans begins with Toomey — and even he did not pledge support for universal background checks in a statement to Vox, suggesting any potential deal would require watering down the bill.

Toomey remains supportive of his bipartisan proposal with Sen. John Feinblatt, the president of Everytown, said just having a vote on the issue represents significant progress — and Schumer committed to scheduling one. Considering the stiff odds universal background checks face in the Senate, gun control advocates are pressing the Biden administration to take executive action. On background checks specifically, Everytown has called on the administration to direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ATF to independently extend background checks to all firearms in order to target so-called ghost guns, or firearms built by purchasers through acquiring parts, making the weapons untraceable.

Everytown also believes Biden can help prevent gun sales without background checks by directing the FBI to alert state and local law enforcement of denied background checks and having the Justice Department crack down on online sales by clarifying its licensing rules.

Politico reported last month that Biden is considering pursuing ghost gun regulations after meeting with advocates, but would stick to supporting congressional action — for now. Any meaningful executive orders would need to be done with an ATF director in place. Chris Murphy, also a Connecticut Democrat, expressed hope some sort of gun control legislation could pass in the Senate.

So much has changed. The politics around us are fundamentally different I just think that you can't compare to I think there are a lot of Republican senators that are thinking about voting for a proposal allows them to get right on this issue," Murphy said, who represents Connecticut where the Sandy Hook shooting took place. He added: "And we will see where people stand. And maybe we'll get the votes and if we don't we'll come together and figure out how we're going to get this done because we have to get it done.

And it is a priority to him on a personal level. Brian Lemek -- the executive director of Brady PAC, the sister organization of gun violence prevention group the Brady Campaign -- praised the House members who supported the legislation.

Though some moderate Democrats and Republicans, like Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W. We'll notify you here with news about. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Comments 0. Top Stories.