Sweeping gun control legislation

House passes most sweeping gun control legislation in decades

By JOHN BRESNAHAN

In one of their biggest moments since winning the majority in November, House Democrats pushed through legislation on Wednesday mandating federal criminal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions.

For Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, it represents a signature moment as they try to fulfill their campaign pledge to take action on gun violence.

The House passed the bill on a 240-190 vote. Eight Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with the Democrats, while two Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Collin Peterson of Minnesota — voted with Republicans against the legislation.

The background checks legislation faces stiff opposition in the GOP-controlled Senate, and President Donald Trump — who has strong backing from the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups — has vowed to veto the bill if it ever reaches his desk.

But House Democrats insist that some federal action must be taken to address the growing toll of gun violence. In addition to Wednesday's vote, they will move legislation on Thursday to close the "Charleston loophole," which allows people to buy guns before background checks are completed, and extend the time period for any background checks from three days to as long as 20 days. White supremacist Dylann Roof was able to buy a gun in 2015 despite pending drug charges, and he later killed nine African-Americans at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.

“Background checks work,” Rep. Mike Thompson of California, the lead Democratic author on the background checks bill, said on the House floor. "Every day, they stop 170 felons and 50 domestic abusers from getting a gun from a licensed dealer. But, in some states, those same people can go into a gun show or go online and buy a gun without a background check. This bill will help stop them from doing so.

"Some will argue that criminals won’t follow the law," he said. "If that is the case, then why do we have laws against murder? People still commit murder. Why do we have laws against stealing? People still steal. This is flawed logic. Don’t fall for it."

The Democratic proposal would require federal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions. It includes some small exemptions, like for transfers between family members or temporary use of a gun for hunting. Gun-control groups estimate that roughly one-fifth or more of gun sales don't include background checks.

But in an embarrassing blow to Democrats, 26 of their own members broke ranks and joined with Republicans to add language to the bill that would report undocumented immigrants to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they attempt to buy a gun. Republicans were ecstatic about the maneuver, which embarrassed Pelosi and other Democratic leaders.

It is the second time i nth past month Democratic leaders have lost a vote to the minority party.

Yet the last-minute floor snafu didn't dissuade Democrats from pushing through the legislation, a major revision of the current background check system for gun purchases.

"Every day, 47 children and teenagers [are] killed by guns," said Pelosi, who noted that "90 percent of the American people want commonsense, universal background checks."

Rep. Peter King of New York, one of the Republicans who co-sponsored the gun bill, said his party must alter its stance on guns or face a backlash from voters in 2020 and beyond.

King said Republicans can't be beholden to the NRA or other gun rights groups.

"The overwhelming majority of Americans support it, and we shouldn't allow a small faction who come out and vote in primaries to scare away the whole party," King said. "There's a moral perspective. I think it's important. From a political perspective, this is a key vote in the suburbs. We did badly in the suburbs last time; we're going to do worse this time. This an issue that even strong, solid Republican conservatives can't understand why we don't support it."

But House GOP leaders and gun rights groups argued the legislation — even if it became law — would not reduce gun violence, especially the unending stream of mass shootings the country has suffered.

"There are plenty of Democrats who want to say they did something rather than doing [legislation] that would actually do something to reduce violence," said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), one of the most outspoken pro-gun rights lawmakers. "Why not try something that will have an impact?"

Hudson said he is working with Democrats on legislation to widen the databases that can be searched as part of the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System. In his view, this is a better alternative than expanding background checks overall.

"This extreme gun- control bill will make criminals out of law-abiding Americans. It will also make it harder for good people to defend themselves and their families," added Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA-ILA, the legislative arm of the group. "Criminals, on the other hand, will continue to get their firearms the way they always have — through the black market, theft and straw purchases. Forcing more government paperwork and additional fees on good people trying to exercise a constitutional right will do nothing to make Americans safer."