Grassley, Cruz Introduce Bill to Improve Compliance with Firearm Background Check System; Protect Second Amendment Rights

“Time and again we’ve seen the disastrous results of failures to fully employ the national background checks system. A number of recent mass shootings could have been prevented by proper execution of the existing system. Senator Cruz and I are now taking steps to bolster that system and improve its ability to prevent future violence.” Grassley said. “When we introduced this legislation in 2013, after the tragedy at Sandy Hook, it received a bipartisan majority vote in the Senate. I’m optimistic in rejoining Senator Cruz in this effort and look forward to the bill’s consideration.”

“During the gun control debate in 2013, following the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook, I was proud to join my colleague Sen. Grassley in introducing this legislation,” Cruz said. “We continue to witness horrific shootings across the country, including in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and Parkland, Florida. This bill seeks to prevent these tragedies by significantly increasing funding for school safety, creating a federal task force to prosecute the criminals who attempt to illegally obtain a firearm, and directing the Department of Justice to make sure that all federal agencies are reporting convictions to the National Background Check Database. In 2013, this bill received the support of a bipartisan majority of the Senate, and I would urge my colleagues to support the bill again today, so that we can focus on targeting violent criminals, rather than law-abiding citizens.”