“The
LGBTQ community and other communities disproportionately targeted by
hate violence cannot wait any longer for common-sense gun safety
legislation,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “It’s
far past time that Congress take action and help save lives by closing
the dangerous loophole in background checks for gun sales. One more
death is one too many, and this common-sense, bipartisan measure would
be a critical first step in addressing the crisis of gun violence
impacting our communities.”
Under
current federal law, only licensed gun dealers are required to conduct a
background check before completing a gun sale. However, a loophole
permits individuals who are not licensed dealers to sell guns without
conducting a background check and with no questions asked. This is a
significant gap in the law that allows individuals who are prohibited
from gun possession to evade that law and buy guns through private sale
transactions at gun shows, online, or anywhere else.
In
2016, after a gunman killed 49 people - most of them LGBTQ and Latinx -
in Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, HRC’s Board of Directors adopted a
resolution that addresses both the epidemic of hate that has fueled
anti-LGBTQ-motivated murder, assault and discrimination as well as
common-sense gun violence prevention policies that would help keep the
LGBTQ community safe. The resolution established HRC’s organizational
position that the safety of LGBTQ people in the United States requires
the adoption of common-sense gun violence prevention measures, including
limiting access to assault-style rifles, expanding background checks,
and limiting the ability of those with violent records to access guns.
Requiring
a background check for every gun sale is a common-sense policy
supported by 97 percent of Americans, including both Democrats and
Republicans, law enforcement officials, and NRA members.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, more than 33,000 gun deaths happen every year.