Bipartisan federal background check expansion proposed

By Chris Eger

Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Calf., says his bill supports the Second Amendment and is aimed at keeping guns from criminals. (Photo: Politico)
A bill introduced in the House last week aims to expand background check to cover firearm sales at gun shows, over the Internet or in classified ads.
The measure, H.R.4240, has 39 lawmakers supporting the move, including two Republicans. U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calf., said he aims to exclude criminals from gun purchases by mandating more checks and improving the current system.
“Background checks are the first line of defense in our efforts to keep guns from criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill,” said Thompson in a statement. “The American people have had enough of thoughts and prayers. They want leaders to act.”
The legislation, constructed in two parts, pledges to plug loopholes in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System without expanding the authority or jurisdiction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives or establishing a Federal firearms registry.
The first part would allocate up to $100 million a year to the Department of Justice to be forwarded to state and local governments to help ramp up their local criminal history and mental healthcare databases with an aim to

Source: Guns.com