House passes gun control bill

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the first of two sweeping gun control bills that would require federal background checks for all firearms sales and transfers. The bill passed 240-190 after eight Republicans voted for it and two Democrats, Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Collin Peterson of Minnesota, voted against it. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 is the first major gun control legislation Congress has considered in nearly 25 years. Its provisions include a requirement that gun sellers notify federal immigration officials if an illegal immigrant tries to buy a gun illegally.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., opposed the bill, saying in a video tweeted by the National Rifle Association before the vote, “Law-abiding citizens will be treated as criminals.” Scalise was injured during a 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia.

The second bill, expected to be taken up Thursday, would extend the review period for background checks from three to 10 days. Currently, a transaction can automatically proceed after three business days pass without a finalized check.

Both bills face dim prospects in the GOP-controlled Senate and a likely veto from President Donald Trump. The White House said the bills impose unreasonable requirements on gun owners.