House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

Posted:	January 4, 2019 12:12 PM
From:	Representative Perry S. Warren
To:	All House members
Subject:	Background Checks for Firearms

According to a 2017 study, 22% of U.S. firearm owners purchased their most recent firearm without being subjected to a background check. However, according to the Giffords Center to Prevent Gun Violence, states with comprehensive background check requirements had 48% less gun trafficking, 38% fewer deaths of women shot by intimate partners, 17% fewer firearms involved in aggravated assaults per capita, and 63% fewer mass shootings by individuals who were prohibited from possessing a firearm. The statistics are clear. Comprehensive background checks protect the lives of American citizens without depriving any lawful gun owner of Second Amendment rights. For this reason, my legislation will eliminate the “gun show loophole” in the Commonwealth to ensure that all firearm sales must be subject to a background check. The legislation would not require a background check for firearms transfers between direct family members. Please join me in keeping our communities safe and protecting all residents of the Commonwealth from firearm violence.
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Introduced as HB673