Bucks Dem. Moves To Force House Vote On Universal Background Checks

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — State Representative Perry Warren, D-Bucks, filed a discharge resolution today to force consideration by the House of his universal background check bill.

Citing the continued inaction of the majority party leadership on gun safety issues widely supported in Pennsylvania, Warren proposed the bill, H.B. 235, in an attempt to amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for sale or transfer of firearms, according to the bill's short title.

“This is a gun safety policy with tremendous support in Pennsylvania that has for years been stalled in the House Judiciary Committee,” Warren said. “This simple safety measure -- a background check on all firearm purchases -- respects the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions while protecting the lives of Pennsylvanians from gun violence.”

A recent Third Way poll found that 89% of Pennsylvanians support universal background checks for all firearm purchases.

Loopholes currently exist that allow certain firearms to be purchased at gun shows without the buyer undergoing a background check. H.B. 235 would close the so-called “gun show loophole” to ensure all firearm sales are subject to a comprehensive background check.

“This is not how legislating is supposed to work, but unfortunately our colleagues across the aisle proudly refuse to move most legislation introduced by Democrats, specifically gun safety measures,” said House Democratic Leader Rep. Joanna McClinton. “Our caucus stands with Representative Warren as he tries to use one of the only tools we have to circumvent this Republican obstruction.”

The last action taken on this bill was its referral to the Pennsylvania House of Representative's judiciary on Jan. 25, 2021.

"According to a 2017 study, 22% of U.S. firearm owners purchased their most recent firearm without being subjected to a background check," Warren wrote in the bill's memorandum, originally published in December of 2020. "However, according to the Giffords Center to Prevent Gun Violence, states with comprehensive background check requirements had 48% less gun trafficking, 38% fewer deaths of women shot by intimate partners, 17% fewer firearms involved in aggravated assaults per capita, and 63% fewer mass shootings by individuals who were prohibited from possessing a firearm."

The Republican-led Judiciary Committee blocked attempts to vote on other widely-supported gun safety measures back in June. This included measures regarding banning assault-style weapons, allowing local governments to pass their own gun safety measures, and requiring the safe storage of firearms.

“These parliamentary maneuvers defy what Pennsylvanians want: for legislators to work together to increase gun safety in our state,” Warren said. “There’s bipartisan compromise at the federal level but, unfortunately in the Pennsylvania House, the committee has been a stone wall. Representatives have not had the chance to vote yes or no on background checks. I hope to change that next week.”

This gun safety bill is just one of many measures being proposed around the country in the wake of the recent shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which left 22 people dead, most of whom were children.

"Please join me in keeping our communities safe and protecting all residents of the Commonwealth from firearm violence," the bill's memorandum read.