Nov. 16 (UPI) — Eight senators from both parties on Thursday introduced legislation to boost compliance with the federal background check system on gun sales.
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., wrote the bill that would provide states incentives to upload information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check system.
They were joined by Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Dean Heller of Nevada and Tim Scott of South Carolina — and Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Dianne Feinstein of California and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
Under the bill, federal agencies who fail to report relevant records will be penalized, and states complying with NICS implementation will be rewarded.
The bill also directs more federal funding to accurately report domestic violence records.
“For years, agencies and states haven’t complied with the law, failing to upload these critical records without consequence,” Cornyn said. “Just one record that’s not properly reported can lead to tragedy, as the country saw last week in Sutherland Springs, Texas.”
On Nov. 5, suspect Devin Kelley gunned down 26 churchgoers in Sutherland Springs with two firearms he’d purchased. Though the former airman had a domestic violence conviction, the U.S. Air Force didn’t submit it to the background check system.
“This deal will strengthen the background check system and save lives,” Murphy said. “Our bill marks an important milestone that shows real compromise can be made on the issue of guns. … It represents the strongest update to the background checks system in a decade.”
Murphy has pushed for gun control legislation since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his state in 2012.
