Kaine Joins Colleagues To Introduce Background Check Bill

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined twenty-two of his colleagues to introduce legislation that would close a loophole that currently permits gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers. This issue gained traction, following Dylann Roof’s deadly attack at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. Roof was able to buy a gun because of the FBI’s failure to complete his background check within the three business days allotted under current law.

“The public overwhelmingly supports stronger background checks to keep communities safer,” Kaine said. “While no single legislative action can solve the problem of gun violence, this commonsense bill can effectively reduce the number of guns getting in the wrong hands.”

The Background Check Completion Act would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer.

The Background Check Completion Act is co-sponsored by: U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).

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