background checks

People look at guns and ammunition at the Great American Outdoor Show on Feb. 9 in Harrisburg, Penn. Former President Donald Trump spoke at the event.

Politics & Government

Here's the new plan to boost background checks for guns bought at shows or online

5:00am April 11, 2024

by Deepa Shivaram

The Justice Department's new rule requires background checks for all gun sales, not just ones sold at gun stores. Attorney General Merrick Garland said it will save lives.

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, talks with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., outside the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday as the two discuss ongoing negotiations in the Senate around gun law legislation.

Senate gun law negotiators working toward a deal by the end of the week

9:40pm June 07, 2022

Negotiations have narrowed proposals to address school safety, standards for safe gun storage, federal support for mental health programs and incentives for states to create red flag laws.

President Biden speaks about the Colorado shootings in the State Dining Room of the White House on Tuesday.

Politics & Government

Biden Urges Immediate Action From Senate On Gun Bills After Colorado Shooting

8:58pm March 23, 2021

by Dana Farrington

The president said the upper chamber needs to pass legislation approved by the House earlier this month, which would tighten gun laws including background checks.

"Most of it is is new gun owners," says Michael Weeks (left), a gun store owner in Gainesville, Ga. By one estimate, Americans have bought nearly 3 million more guns than usual since March.

National

Pandemic And Protests Spark Record Gun Sales

12:03pm July 16, 2020

by Chris Arnold

About 3 million more guns than usual have been sold since the pandemic started. And nearly half of all the sales appear to be to those buying guns for the first time.

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The FBI has reported a surge in background checks for gun sales. Here, firearms are for sale at a shop in New Castle, Pa.

National

Amid Virus Fears And Protests, Firearm Background Checks Hit All-Time High

3:28pm July 02, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System set a record in June with 3.9 million background checks. The previous record of 3.7 million background checks was set in March.

David Hogg, now a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School graduate, has become one of the most prominent figures in the March for Our Lives gun violence prevention movement.

National

March For Our Lives, No Longer Protesting In Streets, Unveils Gun Control Plan

2:41pm August 21, 2019

by Brakkton Booker

The group says its plan could prevent 200,000 gun deaths over 10 years. It calls for creating a national registry and starting a buyback program and creating a national gun czar.

New Directive From Governor Focuses On Gun Safety, Crime Reporting

7:05pm August 12, 2019

by Keri Brown

Governor Roy Cooper signed a new gun safety Executive Directive on Monday. It aims to strengthen background checks among other things.

Guns for sale at a gun show in Naples, Fla.

Politics & Government

Americans Largely Support Gun Restrictions To 'Do Something' About Gun Violence

12:39pm August 10, 2019

by Domenico Montanaro

President Trump says he supports "really intelligent background checks." It's unclear what exactly that means, but support for universal background checks is near universal among Americans.

Republican Rep. Mike Turner represents Dayton, Ohio, where a mass shooting occurred over the weekend. He opposed a House bill expanding background checks but came out in favor of measures to ban assault-style weapons and proposals for red-flag bills.

Politics & Government

Signs Of Republican Movement To Support Gun Bills With New Restrictions

11:36am August 07, 2019

by Deirdre Walsh

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell isn't budging on his opposition to a bill expanding background checks. But other GOP lawmakers who opposed earlier restrictions are now saying it's time to act.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (left) spoke alongside Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley during a vigil at the scene of a mass shooting in that city on Sunday.

National

Ohio Governor Proposes New Gun Control Laws, Marking Shift From Past GOP Leadership

7:07pm August 06, 2019

by Andy Chow

Ohio's Republican governor is proposing new gun control laws in response to the deadly mass killings in Dayton. This would be a big change for the Ohio GOP if he gets his way.

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