Lawmaker Wants To Close Loophole That Lets People Buy Guns Without Background Checks

What State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-31) thinks is a “common sense idea” is having trouble moving forward in Harrisburg.

Despite bipartisan support, Santarsiero, a Democrat also running for the U.S. House of Representatives, said he is having trouble moving House Bill 1010 up for a vote in the House. He said he has support from lawmakers of his own party and even Republicans.

The bill would close a loophole that allows the purchase of long guns during private sales ineligible for background checks. It would also ban persons on the national terrorism watch list and no-fly list from purchasing firearms legally.

If the bill becomes law, Santarsiero and supporters from the BuxMont Coalition for Peace, Bucks County Against Gun Violence, Bucks County Peace Center, CeaseFirePA, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action believe it could help save lives and prevent some mass shootings.

“It seems that on an almost monthly basis there is a tragic incident where our citizens are the victims of [mass shootings],” the lawmaker said while standing in front of a group of supporters on the property of Snipes Farm in Falls Township Monday morning.

Santarsiero told reporters he respects the Second Amendment and rights it affords. He added that he wants to close ways people who should never own guns can get them.

In explaining his bill, which was previously introduced in 2013 and currently has a companion bill in the senate, Santarsiero said input from other lawmakers and gun owners led to the addition of a clause that would allow a background for private gun sales if made through a licensed dealer or county sheriff. Currently, private gun sales are unregulated and no background checks for criminal record and mental health are required.

“It’s time we stood up for reason,” he said.

CeaseFirePA Executive Director Shira Goodman said she has no problems with responsible gun owners and only aims to keep guns out of the hands of serious mental illness and those with criminal backgrounds.  She said the bill makes sense and even has support from gun owners.

Barbara Simmons, executive director of The Peace Center in Langhorne Borough, called for an end to the “culture of fear” that had led to people needing to be “prolifically armed” for protection.

Santarsiero said he is for improving the accuracy of the nation no-fly list that has been infamously inaccurate in the past. He also said it would be “irresponsible” not to enact legislation preventing terror suspects from legally purchasing firearms that could potentially be used in attacks.

The lawmaker said the NRA opposes any gun legislation that is brought forth and is very powerful with government.

The bill would not create any new database of gun owners or restrict purchases on what type of weapons Pennsylvanians can buy.

After the press conference, Santarsiero said he also supports properly funding mental health patients who may turn to violence.

The event took place three years since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The shooting, which was perpetrated by a mentally disturbed man, killed 20 children and six adults. In the wake of the massing killing, the issue of legislation related of firearms has heated up across the country.

Peggy Walsh of the Bucks County Woman’s Advocacy Coalition noted she could go out and buy a Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, the same gun used in the Sandy Hook shooting, in a private sale without undergoing a background check.

“This seems to me to be a ludicrous hypocrisy in our country,” she said.