WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) on March 11 voted to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021. Earlier this year, the Congresswoman introduced a package of five bills to combat gun violence, including efforts to improve the background checks system.

The Congresswoman spoke on the floor Wednesday morning urging her colleagues to vote for these bills and released the following statement ahead of the March 11 vote.

“Today, on behalf of the more than 40,000 Americans who died from gun violence in 2020, the more than 7,900 victims this year, their families and their communities, I am proud to vote for H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021.

“We cannot replace what has been senselessly taken from them – but we have a duty, a sacred duty – to heed the call to protect our country. More than 90 percent of Americans from all walks of life support universal background checks and these bills will keep guns out of the hands of those who aren’t allowed to have them in the first place.

“For years, I’ve introduced a bill to prevent people from skirting the background check process by purchasing guns at gun shows, and I’m very glad that H.R. 8 includes this, among other key provisions, to shore up a truly universal background check process. Individuals who can’t buy a gun from a licensed dealer shouldn’t be able to buy one at a gun show.

“H.R. 1446 fixes another dangerous loophole in our background check system known as the ‘Charleston Loophole.’ Under current law, individuals can complete their gun purchase before their background check is complete if the wait time is longer than 72 hours. That means, if someone would normally be barred from buying a gun but their background check is taking more than 3 business days, they get the gun anyway! Ensuring community safety shouldn’t have a 72-hour clock.

“With gun deaths and gun sales surging in 2020, we must act now to close these loopholes and meaningfully combat gun violence.”