WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 240-190, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed bipartisan legislation to require background checks for anyone wishing to purchase a firearm.

“Today’s vote is historic – it is the first time in my eight years in Congress that the House of Representatives has taken bold action to protect our communities from gun violence. This legislation will help keep firearms away from dangerous people by ensuring that individuals already prohibited from firearm possession under federal law are not able to obtain a gun,” Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) said. “Requiring universal background checks on the sale of every gun is an essential part of ensuring that guns do not fall into the wrong hands. According to one study, nearly a quarter of Americans who acquired a gun did so without a background check. Without a background check, we can’t be sure if they were felons, domestic abusers or violent criminals.”

“The status quo is not working, and today we proved that we will not stand by and do nothing while this type of violence rips apart our communities,” Sewell said. “Today we demanded more than thoughts and prayers – we demanded action.” 

Currently, background checks are required under federal law only for sales conducted by licensed dealers. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 would ensure already-prohibited individuals cannot buy a gun by requiring any firearm transfer between unrelated, unlicensed individuals to be conducted through a licensed dealer, who is required to perform the background check on the recipient. This provision would close the so-called “gun-show loophole” by requiring a background check for the sale or transfer of any firearm, regardless of where it is purchased.

The bill, however, provides a number of exemptions to the universal background check requirement, including gifts to family members and transfers for hunting, target shooting and self-defense.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate (S. 42). A copy of the bill is available here.