Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted in support of two common-sense bills to help protect people in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District and communities across the country from gun violence: H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021.  Congresswoman Fletcher is a co-sponsor of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, which establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties.  The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 closes the dangerous “Charleston loophole,” which allows the sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check is not completed within three business days.  Both bills passed the House of Representatives today.  

“People across our district support common-sense gun safety and gun violence prevention legislation, many of them responsible gun owners,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I was glad to vote today for these common-sense bills that close loopholes to make our communities safer." 

Federal law already requires licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks on gun purchasers or transferees.  H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, extends the requirement of background checks to unlicensed gun sellers.  The bill would require a background check for every gun sale or transfer, with some exceptions for family transfers and temporary transfers for purposes including hunting, target shooting, and self-defense.  Background checks are supported by an overwhelming majority of American people and a majority of gun owners.  

H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019, extends the background check review period from three to ten days.  Due to a federal “default proceed” rule, if a dealer who has initiated a background check has not been notified that the purchaser is prohibited under federal or state law within three business days, the dealer can decide whether or not to proceed with the sale at his or her discretion.  Default proceed sales are four times more likely to involve a prohibited purchaser than other background checks.  H.R. 1446 provides crucial additional time to complete a background check on a potential firearms purchaser before a licensed dealer can transfer a gun.