House seeks stiffer background checks on gun purchases
The Democratic-led U.S. House passed two bills Thursday that stiffen the process of buying a gun, although one piece of legislation had its share of GOP support.
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act was passed by a margin of 227-203, with eight Republicans voting in favor.
The bill would extend background checks to any person or venue selling a firearm, including private sales, online sales and gun shows.
Limited temporary transfer situations are included in the bill.
A second bill passed the House Thursday to extend the waiting period in a gun sale from three to 10 days.
Many Republican representatives said the two pieces of legislation violate the Second Amendment, which allows Americans to keep and bear arms.
“These bills are another attempt by Democrats to make it harder to exercise (their gun-ownership rights),” U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, said. “Banning private sales between law-abiding Americans and giving FBI bureaucrats the power to delay sales at licensed dealers doesn't stop gun crime; it impedes Constitutional rights.”
Read more in Friday's Butler Eagle.
