Phillips makes good on promise to support meaningful gun violence prevention measures in historic House vote
WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today voted for the successful passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act Of 2019.
“Thoughts and tweets don’t save lives, action saves lives,” Phillips said. “I made a commitment to take real action for gun violence prevention and I was pleased to follow through on that today with my colleagues in the House. Universal background checks are supported by an overwhelming number of Americans and gun owners. This bill is long overdue and a good first step for gun violence prevention. I will continue working with my colleagues to keep our families safe.”
Under the current system, gun buyers are not given a background check if they buy from an unlicensed gun seller. This loophole allows millions of guns to change hands every year without a background check. A study found that up to 80 percent of firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained without a background check.
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act closes this loophole by requiring all gun sellers – including private vendors, online sellers, and sellers at gun shows – to conduct background checks on potential buyers. The measure is supported by overwhelming majorities of Americans and gun owners like Rep. Phillips himself.