Peter King Joins Dem to Push New Bill for Expanded Background Checks

Representative Peter King (R-NY) is co-sponsoring expanded background check legislation with Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA).

According to The Hill, the legislation is “identical” to the bill Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) pushed earlier this year. 

It would end private sales at gun shows and private sales from classified ads located online. It would also force sellers in both these settings to sell their firearms through a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder in the way Colorado state legislators have forced residents of the state to handle all gun sales. 

King and Thompson are pushing this bill “to weed out felons, spousal abusers, illegal immigrants, and other categories of prohibited buyers.” 

As with the failed Senate gun bill earlier this year, the expanded background checks in the proposed King/Thompson bill would not have stopped the LAX shooter, the New Jersey mall shooter, Nidal Hasan’s shooting spree at Ft. Hood, or the heinous crime at Sandy Hook Elementary. 

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.