Today, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) is announcing that she is co-sponsoring the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 1565), bipartisan legislation to help prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals. H.R. 1565 would expand the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales.
"As a lawmaker, and as a parent, my heart breaks when I see story after story about lives ripped apart because of gun violence," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "This is common sense legislation that would help ensure that criminals and the dangerously mentally ill don't have access to firearms. 90 percent of Americans are behind expanding background checks and it's time Congress closes these dangerous loopholes."
Congressmen Peter King (R-NY) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, which is identical to the bipartisan agreement on background checks struck by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). H.R. 1565 would require background checks for all firearms sales at gun shows, over the Internet, or through a newspaper advertisement.
Background
In February, Congresswoman Sánchez introduced "The Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act of 2013" (H.R. 793), which would give state and local government and law enforcement agencies another tool to help promote gun safety and fund comprehensive anti-violence campaigns.