Bipartisan bill would charge those who fail NICS check

A bipartisan bill to ensure state and local law enforcement are notified when a prohibited person tries to buy a gun has been referred to a House subcommittee.

The NICS Denial Notification Act of 2016 was sent to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations on Wednesday.

Two Republicans and two Democrats proposed the bill, HR 4320, at the beginning of the year amid a rush of other gun bills and the President’s executive actions aimed to improve the federal background check system for gun purchases.

The measure would act as a tool to supplement the background check law currently in place rather than create a new system. Also require the Justice Department to submit an annual report to Congress that details such denials.

“This bill will better enforce our current background check policies and help keep our communities safer,” said Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois, on social media. Quigley introduced the bill with co-sponsors Democrat New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell and Republicans New York Rep.Peter King and Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Meehan.

The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board calls the measure a “smart move” and boasts it could help prevent gun crimes in places like The Windy City. For example, a large percentage of crime guns are trafficked to Chicago from Indiana, where there’s nothing mandating state or local authorities be contacted if a prohibited person tries to buy a gun.

The newspaper even goes on to say it might even be agreeable for gun groups since the National Rifle Association has not objected it.

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