On the recordApril 17, 2013
I strongly oppose this amendment. Expanded background checks would not have prevented Newtown. Criminals do not submit to background checks now; they will not submit to expanded background checks. The Deputy Director of the National Institute of Justice has written background checks will work only if they are universal and are combined with gun registration. This amendment would start us down the road to registration. It would open, not close, loopholes. It would require background checks when people advertise a gun for sale in their church bulletins or Farm Bureau newsletter. It subjects people to Federal criminal liability up to 5 years for violations of State or local law, which is unprecedented. The pro-gun provisions would actually reduce existing protections for law-abiding gun owners. I urge my colleagues to reject this dangerous and misguided approach. I yield back the remainder of my time, and I yield the floor.
