Gun background check bill gets bipartisan support in Michigan delegation

Buy PhotoVarious AR-15 automatic rifles are seen on a vendor's table during the Gun and Knife Show at the Gibraltar Trade Center in Taylor in 2013. (Photo: John T. Greilick, The Detroit News)Washington — A new bill that aims to mandate background checks for nearly all commercial and private firearm purchases has bipartisan support within Michigan's congressional delegation. The legislation[1] introduced in Congress this month would close a loophole that allows people buying firearms through private sales, such as those at gun shows and online, to skip background checks. Sponsors say the goal is to prevent sales to felons, domestic abusers and people with mental-health issues that would disqualify themfrom gun ownership.With a few exceptions, anyone who isn't a licensed dealer would not be able to transfer firearms under the bill to ensure sales are run through the national criminal background check system. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph (Photo: Susan Walsh / AP)Republican Rep. Fred Upton, Michigan's senior member in the U.S. House, is an original co-sponsor of the bill. "This doesn't take away the legitimate rights of folks who want to own firearms," Upton said. "Background checks are something I've always supported, and I think it closes some loopholes that got to be pretty glaring."The southwest Michigan Republican recalled attending two Ducks Unlimited dinners last year where organizers raffled off shotguns. Each winner had to undergo a background check before claiming the prize, he noted. "If it can work at a setup like that, it should work at a gun show," Upton said."We have the technology today we didn't have before, so let's use it and let's deny folks that have a criminal background from being able to at least legally being able to get some of these weapons."The legislation has 225 co-sponsors in the Democratic-controlled House, including six Michigan Democrats. Buy PhotoU.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton (Photo: Dale G. Young, The Detroit News)Michigan's seventh Democrat, Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly, hasn't co-sponsored the measure but

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