Rep. Stevens Statement in Support of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) made the following statement in support of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. H.R. 8, which is expected to pass the House this afternoon, is the first major gun violence prevention bill to come to the floor of the House of Representatives in decades.

“Today, the House of Representatives will take a major step toward protecting our communities from the epidemic of gun violence,” said Congresswoman Haley Stevens. “This is an incredible achievement for the parents, students, and passionate advocates across the country who have organized and fought for gun safety reforms. After years of inaction, the House of Representatives is on the cusp of passing a bipartisan, popular, common sense measure to expand background checks to all gun sales. I applaud the bipartisan support for this legislation, and I encourage the Senate to show a similar commitment to act in the interest of public safety.”   

Under current federal law, individuals with felony convictions, domestic abusers, and those prohibited from possessing guns due to mental illness are permitted to buy guns online or from an unlicensed seller with no background checks and no questions asked. Too often, homicides are committed by people who should never been allowed to own a firearm in the first place. H.R. 8 would protect Americans by requiring background checks for all gun sales, saving lives and making our communities safer.

Congresswoman Stevens is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. On her first day in office, Congresswoman Stevens sent a letter to her colleagues regarding her priorities for gun violence prevention.

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