Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, voted to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. McBath is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, a historic gun violence prevention bill that was introduced by GVP Task Force Chair Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05). The initial House passage of H.R. 8 in 2019 marked the first time Congress passed a bill to ensure that all firearm sales would be subject to background checks. The bill passed with bipartisan support on a vote of 227-203.
As a mother who lost her child to the very gun violence that every one of us have been fighting to eradicate, thank you. Thank you to all who have been fighting.
— Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) March 11, 2021
There are so many of us that have been waiting & today we have a real possibility to make a difference & save lives. pic.twitter.com/JxgCjgOLg3
“Two years ago, I came to Congress and one of my first actions was cosponsoring this bipartisan legislation that will save lives. I know the pain of gun violence firsthand. With this legislation, we empower law enforcement to keep guns from those who might do harm by simply requiring a background check whenever a gun is sold,” said McBath. “This is common-sense legislation that will prevent more families from knowing the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. Our vote today is a beginning and not an end. In again passing this bipartisan, common-sense legislation, we call on our colleagues in the Senate to do what is right to keep Americans safe. The lives of our loved ones are on the line.”
This historic bipartisan bill ensures background check procedures are followed for all gun sales, including sales made by unlicensed dealers. McBath has been a tireless advocate for gun safety measures during her time in Congress, and has been called “one of the House Democratic Caucus’s most important voices on gun control legislation.” McBath lost her son, Jordan, when he was shot and killed by a man who opened fire on a car of unarmed teenage boys at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2012. Jordan was 17 years old.
The House also passed H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. The bill will help to address and close the “Charleston Loophole,” which allows a firearm sale to proceed if a background check is not completed within three business days.
Watch McBath’s remarks this morning during the H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 press conference with House and Senate leadership here and during the #BackgroundChecksNow Virtual March with Chair Thompson, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Chris Murphy, Senator Richard Blumenthal and advocates (27:58) here.