The House of Representatives passed a pair of bills to expand background checks for gun sales, among the first pieces of gun control legislation following Joe Biden’s inauguration, as a Democratially controlled Congress eyes debate over legislation that stalled under Republican control.
One measure, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, would require background checks on nearly all gun sales, including transactions involving unlicensed or private sellers. That measure received nominal bipartisan support from eight Republicans.
Another measure that passed the House on Thursday after its introduction by House Majority Whip James Clyburn would increase a background check review period from three to 10 days.
“A large majority of Americans, including gun owners, support universal background checks,” the congressman said in a statement. “This legislation is needed to keep weapons out of the hands of those who should not have them and save lives.”