Senate Panel Casts Votes on Gun Purchases
While background checks are now required for firearm sales by the nation’s 55,000 federally licensed gun dealers, they are not required for private sales between individuals, like those at gun shows or online. In Congress’ first gun votes since the Newtown, Conneticut school shooting, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to deter gun trafficking and straw purchasing by heighten federal penalties against illegal firearms purchases. The Democratic-led panel voted 11-7 to impose penalties of up to 25 years for people who legally buy firearms but give them to someone else for use in a crime or to people legally barred from acquiring weapons. The committee was expected to vote on several other bills, including one that would require background checks for nearly all gun purchases and another that would provide around $40 million a year for schools to buy security equipment but no verdict has yet been reported. The debate made it clear that new gun restrictions face a difficult road getting through a Congress where the National Rifle Association and conservative voters have such a loud presence.
Source: Alan Fram at The Associated Press, and forensicmag.com
Citation:
Fram, A. Forensic Magazine. Senate Panel Casts Votes on Gun Purchases . Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://www.forensicmag.com/news/senate-panel-casts-votes-gun-purchases?et_cid=3130957&et_rid=515363537&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.forensicmag.com%2fnews%2fsenate-panel-casts-votes-gun-purchases
