Congressman Cohen Votes for Gun Background Checks

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) voted for, and the House passed, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, the first significant gun violence protection bill in years. The vote was 240 to 190. The measure requires a background check for every gun sale or transfer with some reasonable and explicit exceptions, such as allowing temporary transfers to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, and by law enforcement and the military.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"National polls have consistently shown that a bill requiring universal background checks is supported by more than 90 percent of the American public, including more than 90 percent of gun-owning households. This Congress is keeping its promise to the American people to do all it can to prevent senseless gun violence. This is a beginning."

The Bipartisan Background Checks bill closes the loophole that permitted people prohibited from owning guns from buying them from unlicensed sellers, such as sellers at gun shows.