Mr. President, I have long sought to bring attention to the dangerous gaps in U.S. gun laws, hoping the exposure would lead to the passage of commonsense firearm legislation. To those of us who feel that Congress can and should play a role in protecting American neighborhoods from the scourge of gun violence, enacting laws to ensure firearms stay out of the hands of dangerous people seems like a no- brainer. Unfortunately, the National Rifle Association, despite broad support for sensible gun safety laws among Americans across the political spectrum, has successfully blocked much-needed legislative changes. Recently a startling new voice joined the discussion highlighting the weaknesses in our gun laws, most notably how we administer firearm background checks. Consider the following quote describing the so- called gun show loophole: America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms. You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle without a background check and, most likely, without having to show an identification card. While this quote does not break any new ground regarding the dangers of the gun show loophole, it is noteworthy because of the person who said it. These were not the words of a Member of Congress, advocating for legislation, nor were they the words of a spokesperson of groups like Mayors Against Illegal Guns or the Brady Campaign.…
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