Bill Gives Law Enforcement Time to Complete Background Checks and Prevent Dangerous People from Buying Guns
DOVER, Del. – The Delaware chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded state senators for advancing House Bill 325, legislation aimed at closing the “Charleston Loophole” that allows people to purchase guns even though their background checks are not complete. HB 325 will give law enforcement officials more time to complete background checks on dangerous buyers – rather than allowing sales to go forward after three business days even if a full background check isn’t complete. The Governor signed the bill Wednesday afternoon.
STATEMENT FROM SUZANNE BATEMAN, VOLUNTEER WITH THE DELAWARE CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the horrific attack in Charleston, South Carolina and Delaware senators deserve praise for moving forward with HB 325 and doing their part to honor the legacy of those whose lives were tragically cut short in that church last June. The legislation will help make our communities safer by closing the loophole that allows dangerous individuals to get their hands on guns if a full background check can’t be completed in three days. In the last five years alone, more than 15,000 gun sales were able to go through because the FBI could not complete a complete a comprehensive background check within three business days. Law enforcement should be given additional time if that’s what an investigation requires. As we’ve seen in Charleston, inaction on this issue can lead to fatal results. I’m deeply proud to live in a state whose public officials take these threats so seriously and who put public safety ahead of the gun lobby.”
The Charleston shooter’s arrest records flagged him for further review at the time of his attempted purchase, and the FBI would have denied the sale if it had more time to fully examine all of his records. Because federal law allowed the firearms dealer to sell the shooter a gun after three business days had elapsed, however, he was able to purchase the gun despite an incomplete background check. More information on the “Charleston Loophole” is available here.