Congressman Cohen Votes to Close the Charleston Gun Loophole

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for, and the House passed, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, closing the loophole that permitted the shooter in the 2015 Emanuel A.M.E. Church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina, to buy a gun when the three-day deadline for completing a background check passed, despite the fact he would not have been approved for the sale if the check had been completed. The vote was 228 to 198.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"The American people were outraged when they learned a white supremacist, who should have been prohibited from purchasing a gun, was able to buy one because the background check that would have prevented the purchase had not been completed within the required three-day period. This bill, like yesterday's House passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks bill, makes commonsense changes in our gun laws and keeps our promise to do all we can to prevent senseless gun violence."