While the bill — spearheaded by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Pete King (R-N.Y.) — had five Republican co-sponsors, it passed largely along party lines, with just eight GOP lawmakers voting in favor of the measure. Two Democrats opted to vote against it.
The bill was amended at the eleventh hour after Democrats failed to whip enough votes against a Republican-backed motion to recommit that would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be notified when immigrants who do not have legal status attempt to purchase a firearm.
View the complete February 27 article yb Juliegrace Brufke on The Hill website here.