Congressman Sires’ Statement on Vote to Expand Background Check System

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed two commonsense bills that would expand the national background check system:

“For years, Congress has offered nothing but ‘thoughts and prayers’ when innocent civilians lost their lives to the gun violence epidemic that is plaguing our country.  That changed this week.  The House of Representatives passed two, long overdue, bills that strengthen our background check system.  As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I was proud to stand with my colleagues as we sent the Bipartisan Background Check Act of 2019 and the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019 to the Senate.  These bills close dangerous loopholes in our background check system that have allowed otherwise prohibited purchasers to obtain deadly weapons.  By extending the background check system to all gun sales, not just licensed dealers, and extending the timeframe for a check to be completed, we can ensure that our laws are effective and American lives are protected.  More than 90% of our country support these commonsense steps and I want to thank Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. James Clyburn for introducing them.  I call on my colleagues in the Senate to listen to the will of the people and pass this package of bills, so they can be signed into law.”

H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Check Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), passed by a vote of 240-190. H.R. 1112, the Expanded Background Checks Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), passed by a vote of 228-198. Both bills now await further consideration in the Senate.

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