Congressman Cohen Votes for Background Checks Bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, voted today to move the Bipartisan Background Checks Act to the floor for consideration by the full House.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"Last week, the House Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on gun violence in eight years. Today we voted and moved to the House floor an important bill to keep guns out of the wrong hands. This legislation will save lives and I look forward to its swift passage."

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act requires the use of the background checks system for the transfer or sale of firearms to help prevent felons, people with histories of mental illness, people charged with spousal abuse and others prohibited from owning guns from obtaining them.