House Democrats on Wednesday passed legislation to expand background checks for firearm purchases, citing an epidemic of gun violence.
Eight Republicans voted with Democrats to pass the bill in a 240-190 vote, but the smattering of GOP support was enough for the party to tout a bipartisan victory as they advanced the first significant gun control measure in decades.
“This bill is proudly bipartisan because gun violence prevention should not be a Democratic or Republican issue,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said prior to the vote. “Gun violence doesn’t discriminate by party or politics. It will require all our courage to defeat it.”
Just before the vote, Republicans managed to sneak in language requiring that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement be notified when an illegal immigrant tries to buy a gun. Republicans cheered the late addition to the bill, which was passed with the help of 26 Democrats, but many were surprised as Democrats blocked it unanimously when the bill was being considered in committee.
The final vote was several years in the making for Democrats, who have been sidelined in the minority for the last several years. In 2016, they commandeered the House floor from the Republican majority and held a “sit in” to demand the GOP take up a bill that would ban gun purchases by people on the federal terror watch list.
Republicans never relented, but Democrats revived their effort as soon as they won back the majority in November and promised to take up a gun control measure early in the new Congress. Democrats cited the string of mass shootings that have occurred in recent years as well as polls indicating expanded background checks is broadly supported by the public.
“It’s about time that Congress takes this issue seriously,” Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., said during the House floor debate on the bill. “In recent years, our nation has experienced an increase in mass shootings and our nation is appropriately horrified.”
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Calif., who chairs a gun violence task force. It would broaden the nation’s background check system to add licensed firearms dealers that are now excluded from the requirement.
It would cover sales that take place at gun shows or over the Internet or in classified ads. The bill provides “reasonable exceptions” for firearm transfers between family members and friends.
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Most Republicans opposed the bill, and those who came to the House floor to speak against it pointed to data that suggests expanding background checks won’t stop mass shootings and would instead block law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves with guns. They cited language in the bill that could snag innocent gun transfers that are not part of the exceptions provided in the bill.
“So suppose you exchange guns with a friend on a hunt and then separate for a period of time, or you loan a gun to your next door neighbor who has been victimized by a stalker, or give a gun to your stepson, or great-grandson?” said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. “Under these scenarios, you’re guilty of a federal crime.”
Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, who is the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said the House should instead vote on a Republican bill that would improve coordination among law enforcement officials so that those who should not own guns are blocked by the current background check system.
McClintock said recent mass shootings were carried out by people who should have been flagged by the background check system but were not due to human error.
“Democrats refuse to acknowledge human factors leading to these events, but Republicans have a bill to help law enforcement coordinate responses to mental health concerns and other mass violent threat information,” Collins said.
Democrats said they plan to take up additional legislation addressing gun violence during this Congress but have not identified specific measures. The House will vote tomorrow on a measure authored by Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., that would extend wait times for background checks from three days to 10 days or more.
The House-passed background check bill now heads to the GOP-led Senate and will very likely stall there. Senate lawmakers have tried but failed to pass gun legislation in recent years, including a 2016 measure to expand background checks.
House Democrats said they were satisfied to be “doing something” aside from the typical moment of silence they hold in the chamber following mass shootings.
“Today, your thoughts and prayers aren’t enough,” Thompson said. “Today, you can vote yes.”
