Congress Guns Senate

Universal Background Checks Clear Senate Committee

Good news — the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill that would institute near-universal background checks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Senate Judiciary Committee approved a Democratic bill Tuesday expanding required federal background checks to nearly all gun purchases, giving President Barack Obama an early victory on curbing gun violence in a fight that still faces difficult odds.

The vote was 10-8, with all Democrats supporting the measure and every Republican opposing it. [...]

The background check measure would expand the requirement to firearms sales between private individuals, such as those that occur at gun shows. Currently, the checks are required only for sales by federally licensed firearms dealers.

I expect this bill or one similar to it will eventually clear the full Senate, but I don’t expect the House of Representatives will act on it any time soon if ever. If we want serious gun control in America, we have to retake the House.

One could say the same for so many things we need to deal with.