Larsen votes to expand gun background checks, close Charleston loophole

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for a pair of commonsense, bipartisan bills to require universal background checks for all commercial sales with limited exceptions and close the Charleston Loophole. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 passed the House of Representatives by a final vote of 227 to 203. The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 passed by a final vote of 219 to 210.

“Congress has a responsibility to better protect communities from gun violence,” said Larsen. “These two commonsense bills make it harder for dangerous individuals and criminals to access firearms while respecting Second Amendment rights. While no law can prevent all shootings, I will continue to support meaningful solutions like a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines that keep communities safe.”

Larsen is a strong supporter of solutions to protect communities from gun violence. Last year, Larsen supported initiatives to fund the nationwide background check system, and authorize and fund federal gun violence research, youth mentoring programs, and mental health services and research. A cofounder of the bipartisan School Safety Caucus, he plans to reintroduce legislation this Congress to reauthorize a grant program to enable school leaders to improve school safety infrastructure, provide violence prevention training and increase collaboration with local police.

Both bills Larsen supported make communities safer by closing loopholes that undermine firearm background checks.

• The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 requires a background check for all gun sales or transfers, with limited exceptions that, for example, allow a person: to give a gun as a gift to a close family member; loan a gun for hunting or target shooting; or provide a gun in the moment of self-defense. Roughly 80 percent of firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained through unlicensed sellers, without a background check.
• The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 addresses the so-called “Charleston Loophole,” which currently allows the sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check is not completed within three business days. While 97 percent of background checks are processed within three business days, more than 20 percent of gun transfers to prohibited purchasers were completed though a “default proceed” sale —meaning those background checks were not complete. The bill extends the initial background check review period from 3 business days to 10 business days. After the initial 10 business day period, if a background check has not been completed, a purchaser may request an escalated review by the FBI.

Inaction is no longer an option. Since 2008, there have been three mass shootings in Washington’s Second District. In 2016, a gunman killed five people at the Cascade Mall in Burlington. In 2014, a student opened fire at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, killing four. In 2008, six people were killed in a Skagit County shooting spree. Additionally, in July 2016, a gunman shot four people at a party in Mukilteo, killing three and seriously wounding the fourth.

For a summary of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, click here.

For a summary of the Enhanced Background Checks Act, click here.