Until we eliminate the filibuster, H.R. 8 & H.R. 1446 are another broken promise to communities of color across the country.
Washington, D.C., March 11, 2021 — Team ENOUGH joins Brady in celebrating the passage of H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, legislation to strengthen and expand Brady Background Checks to cover all gun sales. Team ENOUGH Executive Council member Aalayah Eastmond joined Just Democracy in urging the U.S. Senate to eliminate the filibuster to pass H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446:
“We know the Senate does not work when more than 90 percent of Americans support expanded background checks, and still, life-saving gun violence prevention legislation can die in the Senate. If the Senate chooses to once again preserve the Senate filibuster instead of passing H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, more Black and Brown lives will be taken in preventable tragedies like the Mother Emanuel Church shooting.
Black and Brown people — the same people who secured Democrats a governing trifecta — are disproportionately impacted by gun violence, but undervalued in this debate. That’s why we need a structural democracy. Now is the time for politicians to finally act on past promises to protect communities of color from gun violence: eliminate the filibuster to pass H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 and ensure this time is different.”
Abolish the Filibuster!
— Aalayah (@AalayahEastmond) March 11, 2021
Although we have this win, Senate can still stop our future victories! This is still relevant!
Don’t get too comfortable! We still have so much more work to do! pic.twitter.com/qYEijE7OYL
About H.R. 8:
Introduced on March 2, 2021 by Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), H.R. 8 makes it unlawful to sell or transfer a firearm in any transaction without a Brady Background Check. This bill expands the current Brady Law to every sale or transfer in private sales, subject to the narrow exceptions.
About H.R. 1446:
Introduced on March 2, 2021 by Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-6), H.R. 1446 provides the background check system with additional time to make a final determination on a potential firearms purchaser before a licensed dealer can transfer a gun, addressing the so-called “Charleston loophole.”
Currently, federal law allows a “default proceed,” whereby a federally licensed firearm dealer (FFL) can transfer a gun to a customer if the federal background check is not completed within 3 business days of the background check request to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The Charleston loophole is named for the 2015 mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Charleston, S.C., that killed nine innocent people. The shooter – who was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm – was able to acquire his gun before the FBI could complete his background check. Although the FBI needed more time to investigate the shooter’s disqualifying records to determine whether the purchase was lawful, federal law allowed the dealer to transfer the gun after three days even though the check was not completed.
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