The number of gun murders and massacres so far this year is staggering, devastating and wholly unacceptable.
Mitch McConnell must – immediately – recall Congress to address this and to hold votes on gun control bills he has been sitting on.
USA Today explains the two bills in an article on 5 August:
H.R. 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
In February this year, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019.
This bill passed 240-190, with eight Republicans joining almost all Democrats to vote for the bill. This bill would prohibit most person-to-person firearm transfers unless a background check can be conducted, aiming to close a potential loophole allowing the transfer of firearms without a background check at gun shows or between individuals.
The Senate has not taken any action on the bill since the House passed it.
H.R. 1112 Bipartisan Background Checks Act
This bill would extend to at least 10 days the amount of time firearms dealers must wait for a response from the background check system before the sale can proceed. Currently, they can make the sale if they haven’t received a response in three days.
H.R. 1112 passed in February 2019 by a vote of 240-190. Like H.R. 8, the Senate has taken no action on the bill since it passed.
Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer is among those calling for Congress’ recess to be cut short, as is Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. She tweeted to Senator Mitch McConnell, who is responsible for the bills’ lack of progress, writing: “The House passed HR8, a Bipartisan Background Checks Act, *5 months ago* and the Senate has yet to vote on it. It was one of our 1st major priorities after ending the gov shutdown. You’ve been sitting on it since February giving bogus excuses. Care to explain the people why?”
ACTION
Please contact your elected representatives through one of the channels below and give them the following message, personalized to your liking:
In light of the country’s recent spate of gun murders including Gilroy, Dayton and Chicago, and especially in light of the El Paso massacre in which an AK-47 style assault rifle was used, I want to see Congress recalled immediately to address the nation’s gun death epidemic.
Two bills are with Senator Mitch McConnell – HR 8 and HR 1112: these need to be put to a vote immediately, and Senator McConnell should be made to explain why he has sat on them since February.
I will be watching to see what happens and how my representatives vote: anyone who is still taking money from the NRA and who is not actively working to improve America’s gun laws will not be getting my vote. It is a shame that Senator McConnell has suffered a broken bone: but this must not stand in the way of calling Congress back from recess.
I am not remotely interested in your thoughts and prayers for those who have been killed: I am only interested in your concrete actions to stop more avoidable gun murders.
Find your congressperson here: https://www.conginst.org/contact-congress/
And/or copy Mitch McConnell on your message:
Mitch McConnell
Phone: (270) 781-1673
Email: (form) https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactform
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mitchmcconnell/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/McConnellPress
Once you have made contact, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!