US House Rep Susan Davis' office issued the following:
Washington, February 27, 2019
Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) voted for bipartisan
legislation to reduce gun violence and save lives. The Bipartisan
Background Checks Act (H.R. 8), of which Davis is a cosponsor, would
expand background checks to all gun purchases and some transfers. H.R. 8
passed the House on a bipartisan vote.
“After years of inaction, Congress is finally taking action
to reduce gun violence,” said Rep. Davis. “Today we are offering more
than thoughts and prayers. We are offering bipartisan legislation to
expand background checks to all gun purchases. This bill is a strong
first step toward making our schools, workplaces, homes, and public
spaces safer.”
While federal law already requires licensed gun dealers to
conduct background checks on gun purchasers and transferees, H.R. 8
would extend this requirement to unlicensed gun sellers. As a result,
unlicensed gun sellers would meet their buyers at a licensed gun dealer,
who would then run a background check.
About 80 percent of firearms used for criminal purposes are
obtained without a background check – through an unlicensed gun seller
like a gun show, online, or person-to-person.
The bill requires a background check for every gun sale or
transfer, with reasonable and explicit exceptions such as giving a gun
as a gift to a close family member, loaning a gun for hunting or target
shooting, or providing a gun in the moment of self-defense.
