WASHINGTON (AP) - Days after reclaiming the House majority, Democrats are introducing gun control legislation timed for the anniversary of the shooting of former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats will introduce a bill to expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms on Tuesday, the eighth anniversary of the day Giffords was shot at a constituent meeting in Arizona.
In 2018, we spoke up, marched & elected gun safety champions to Congress.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) January 8, 2019
Today, they delivered. I was honored to help unveil the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. My message to our nation's leaders: be bold, be courageous—the nation’s counting on you. #HR8 #GunSafetyNow pic.twitter.com/tst25atTr0
Democrats promised swift action on gun control after the party regained the House majority following eight years of Republican rule.
Pelosi calls the bill on background checks a common-sense measure and the first step toward more comprehensive gun control.
Citing polls showing 97 percent of Americans support background checks, Pelosi says Democrats "will press relentlessly" to end the nation's epidemic of gun violence.
