On the eighth anniversary of the shooting of former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats Tuesday announced a bill to expand background checks for sales and transfers of firearms.
The legislation marks one of Pelosi’s first acts since retaking the role of House Speaker after Democrats took back control of the lower chamber of Congress in the midterm elections. Many Democrats promised swift action on gun control during last year’s campaign season.
Pelosi, who was joined at a news conference by Giffords and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., called the legislation a commonsense measure and cited polling that shows strong support for background checks among Americans.
“We say enough is enough by bringing commonsense, bipartisan background check legislation to the floor of the House,” Pelosi said.
GUN CONTROL MEASURES PROPOSED BY TRUMP, LAWMAKERS AFTER FLORIDA SHOOTING[1]
Giffords, who was shot in the head at a constituent meeting in Tucson, Arizona, has since become one of the most public faces in advocating for stricter gun control laws.
“Now is the time to come together, Democrats and Republicans,” Giffords said. “Be bold. Be courageous. The nation is counting on you.”
Giffords, who co-founded a gun safety group with her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, said in a statement Friday she was thrilled that her former House colleagues were responding to a gun-violence epidemic that killed nearly 40,000 people in 2017.
The bill expanding background checks "marks a critical first step toward strengthening America's gun laws and making our country a safer place to live, work, study, worship and play," Giffords said. "I stand ready to do everything in my power to get this legislation across the finish line."
CONFUSION OVER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STANCE ON GUN CONTROL[2]
Thompson said that he
