January 9, 2019

Action Alert:
Tell Your U.S. Representative to Vote for H.R. 8


Update: On February 27, 2019, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8 by a vote of 240-190.  An ugly amendment was added to the bill via Motion to Recommit by Republican Doug Collins of Georgia, however. It would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be notified whenever an undocumented immigrant attempts to buy a gun from a federally licensed dealer. The xenophobic Collins Amendment was supported by 26 Democrats who were released to vote YES by House Democratic leaders.


On January 8, former Congresswoman and gun violence survivor Gabby Giffords joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats for the introduction of H.R. 8,  a bill to require universal background checks on all private gun sales except those between immediate family members.

Gabby Giffords, Lucy McBath, Shannon Watts and other GVP champions at presser announcing H.R. 8.

The primary sponsors of H.R. 8 are Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson from California and Republican Congressman Peter King of New York.  Original co-sponsors include Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), Brian Mast (R-FL-18), Robin Kelly (D-IL-2), Fred Upton (R-MI-6), Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), and gun violence survivor Lucy McBath (D-GA-06).

H.R. 8 is not perfect—it retains some language meant to appease the gun lobby, but that language is harmless. The bill’s enactment would save lives by putting a significant obstacle in the way of violent Americans unable to complete a background check through the FBI’s instant check system. H.R. 8 is expected to received a vote on the House floor during the week of February 25.

Please call your U.S. Representative through the U.S. Capitol Hotline at (202) 224-3121 and give him/her one of the following messages, personalized to your liking:

Hasn’t co-sponsored H.R. 8 yet or announced intention to vote YES
Please vote in favor of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, when it comes to the floor of the House (as early as the week of February 25, 2019). This legislation would put a significant obstacle in the way of federally prohibited gun purchasers (e.g., felons, under active restraining orders, involuntary commitment, etc.) by requiring them to undergo a background check when they buy firearms from private sellers. H.R. 8 exempts temporary transfers of firearms and gun sales between immediate family members. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Peter King (R-NY) introduced this modest, bipartisan bill along with 4 other Democrats and 4 other Republicans.  As your constituent, I can assure you that gun control is a voting issue for me. I want to see you co-sponsor H.R. 8 and vote for the bill when it comes to the floor of the House. We have a moral duty to disarm violent people looking to harm our communities. 

Has already co-sponsored H.R. 8 and/or announced intention to vote YES
Thank you so much for co-sponsoring H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019.  I am so glad to see the House of Representatives taking a concrete first step toward disarming violent Americans. I am 100% behind you on universal background checks and look forward to seeing you vote for H.R. 8 on the floor of the House. As your constituent, gun control is an important voting issue for me. Keep leading the way on gun violence prevention so we can save lives!

To find out if your Representative has co-sponsored H.R. 8, visit the following link and search “hr8”. Click on the bill number and then the Cosponsors tab on the next page:

https://www.congress.gov

If you don’t know who your U.S. Representative is, or want a direct-dial number or website, click here:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Once you have contacted your Representative, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!


This is an action alert, NOT an online petition. Please take the action before filling out the fields below.

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