New Gun Legislation Passed by House Cracks Down on Background Checks

The House passed two new pieces of gun legislation that cracks down on background sales. The first proposed bill was the Bipartisan Background Checks act of 2021. It expands background checks for all firearm sales or transfers in the country, including unlicensed and private sellers. The bill was approved 227 to 203. The second bill called the Enhanced Background Checks act of 2021 was proposed by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. The South Carolina Democrat is looking to close a loophole in our current law, otherwise known as the “Charleston Loophole.” It allows some licensed gun sales to go through before the required background check is finished. Using this loophole, Dylann Roof was able to legally purchase a firearm which he used to kill nine people at a historically Black church in Charleston in 2015. This bill passed in a 218 to 210 vote. Now both measures will head to the Senate where they’re expected to be met with resistance by Republicans.