It is part of a new impetus from the Democrats after taking control of the Senate.
The House passed the 2021 Bipartisan Background Check Act on Thursday, a move that would require universal background checks on all commercial arms sales, part of a new push for arms control after Democrats gained control. of the Senate.
Some Republicans vehemently opposed the expanded checks, one saying that they “should turn law-abiding citizens into criminals”. Despite criticism, eight Republicans supported the bill, which was approved by 227-203.
Universal background check legislation was introduced in March by Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Calif., Who is chairman of the Firearms Violence Prevention Task Force, has three Republican Party co-sponsors.
“These two pieces of legislation will go a long way in improving armed violence,” Thompson said at a news conference shortly before the bill passed Thursday morning. Thompson also praised the effectiveness of background checks, while surrounded by lawmakers who support the bill, including Congresswoman Lucy McBath, D-Ga., Whose son was a victim of armed violence.
The bill is the work of the Armed Violence Prevention Task Force, created after the shooting at Sandy Hook Primary School. The legislation was originally introduced and passed by the House in early 2019, but was never considered by the Senate controlled by Republicans.
The House voted 219-210, mainly along the lines of the party, to approve an arms control measure introduced by Rep. Jim Clyburn, DS.C to extend the waiting period for background checks to 10 days. The bill would close the “Charleston loophole”, which allows a gun to be sold if a background check is not carried out in three days.
The name was coined after the breach allowed sniper Dylann Roof to obtain a weapon for a massacre at a Charleston church that killed nine people. Clyburn discussed the bill shortly before it passed the House on Thursday morning.
“You know, I get a little emotional when I think about the Charleston gap, because there is nothing more sacred in most people’s lives than their church,” said Clyburn.
“However, he still shouldn’t have the gun and the reason for having the gun is that when he went to buy it and the three days expired, as permitted by current legislation, they were unable to verify the information he had provided and therefore was unable to complete the background check, “said Clyburn on Wednesday during the House plenary debate over the legislation.” This law would have prevented [Roof] to get a gun. “
The bills faced the ire of Republican members of the House who did not support the extension of background checks. Deputy Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Said in a tweet that “universal weapons background checks are only intended to turn law-abiding citizens into criminals.”
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Also questioned Clyburn’s legislation, and during the debate in the House plenary on Wednesday, said it was not fair.
“Is it fair to surround yourself with armed guards, with the Capitol Police who have guns, with personal details, bodyguards and ask people to pay for it while you make it more difficult for those same people to protect themselves? I don’t think that is fair, “said Massie.
After the two projects were presented, President Joe Biden supported the effort, saying in a tweet that he is committed to “approving common sense reforms in arms security as president”.
Although both bills are likely to pass the House, they will face a troubled approval in the 50/50 divided Senate. Although some Democrats and Republicans are moderate, like Sens. Joe Manchin, DW.Va. and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., have submitted background check projects in the past.
Benjamin Siegel of ABC News contributed to this report.