Congressman Kweisi Mfume on Passage of Landmark Background Check Legislation
Statement
WASHINGTON--Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume of Maryland (MD-07) issued the following statement after he and the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass two key pieces of common-sense gun legislation to address gun violence that plagues our communities: H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act; and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021.
"My heart breaks every time I hear about a life lost or forever changed as a result of gun violence in our communities. A complex issue like gun violence must be met with multilayered solutions. Strengthening our gun laws and background check system, while not the sole solution, is a common-sense step towards ending the blood in our streets. I am proud to support these efforts and any gun legislation that will protect our rights and prevent our families from suffering the heartbreak and horror of gun violence in their lives," Congressman Kweisi Mfume said. "Today I proudly voted to take swift and substantial action to begin to curb this senseless violence and the continued proliferation of guns."
About the Legislation
The first is H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. Current loopholes allow firearms to be sold at gun shows, online, or person-to-person without a background check. The bill will require a background check for every gun sale or transfer. The House voted 227-203 to pass the measure.
The second bill is H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, also known as the "Charleston Loophole" bill. This dangerous loophole allows individuals to purchase a firearm just three days after a background check begins, even if it has not been completed. FBI analysis of the current system shows three days is not always enough time to decide if someone should or should not be allowed to own a gun. This bill will extend the review period to ten days to ensure gun sellers are not putting guns in the hands of people who should not have them. The measure passed with a 219-210 vote.
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