Democrats’ passion project of regulating the sale of guns at gun shows has a new advocate.
According to The Hill, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) is picking up the initiative from retired Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.).
Maloney reintroduced McCarthy’s Gun Show Loophole Closing Act Tuesday.
The bill would subject any private sale of a weapon at a gun show to a background check and would require any transfer of guns to be reported to the attorney general.
Currently, background checks are required for the sale of firearms by a licensed dealer at a gun show, but no such requirement exists for private sales.
“Background checks keep guns out of criminal hands, but for no good reason the current law allows many guns to be sold without this basic step,” Maloney said in a news release.
“It wouldn’t be hard for gun show hosts to set up a background check station for private sellers. Many states already have this requirement, and my legislation would nationalize it.”
Despite Maloney’s optimism, it is highly unlikely this legislation will become law with the Republicans holding their largest majority in the U.S. House in 80 years.
