Congressman Jerry McNerney took to Social Media after the San Bernardino shooting calling for Congress to take action to curb gun violence.
He posted on his Twitter account the following:
“SanBernardino is another painful reminder that we must take action to curb gun violence. It’s time for GOP to join us & pass sensible laws”
We reached out to Congressman Jerry McNerney who clarified the Tweet.
According to Mike Naple, of Congressman McNerney’s office, he says Congressman McNerney stated that he was encouraging Congress should take action to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation. He is currently a co-sponsor on the Thompson/King legislation (H.R. 1217) that would expand the existing Brady background check system to ensure that all commercial gun sales are covered by background checks.
The bill, authored by U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Pete King (R-NY), expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the internet or in classified ads while providing reasonable exceptions for family and friend transfers.
Under the legislation, the current background check system would be expanded to require comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all commercial gun sales, such as those made at gun shows, over the internet or through classified ads. Studies show that every day where background checks are used, the system stops more than 170 felons, some 50 domestic abusers, and nearly 20 fugitives from buying a gun. However, no system is in place to prevent these same prohibited purchasers from buying identical guns at a gun show, over the internet, or through a newspaper ad with no questions asked because background checks are not required for these kinds of sales. The King-Thompson bill closes these loopholes.
The legislation also supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. It bans the government from creating a federal registry and makes the misuse of records a felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. It provides reasonable exceptions for firearms transfers between family members, friends and hunting buddies. It allows active military personnel to buy guns in the state in which they are stationed. It permits interstate handgun sales from licensed dealers. And, under the bill, background checks would continue to be conducted in the same manner as they have for more than 40 years.
The bill also help strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by incentivizing states to improve reporting of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill and by directing future grant funds toward better record-sharing systems. The bill will reduce federal funds to states that do not comply.
Press Release on the bill released by Rep. Mike Thompson on March 4, 2015
Congressman McNerney’s staff further highlighted that the Congressman is a gun owner.
“The Congressman is a gun owner who believes that citizens do have the right to own a firearm. The Congressman believes we can have responsible laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people while also protecting the Second Amendment,” said Naple.
1 comment
What good is stricter background checks when crooks don’t buy from gun stores or gun shows? Crooks purchase assault style weapons from the trunks of cars that come from overseas. What happened in San Bernadino could not have been prevented with tougher fun control laws.
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