Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A divided US Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday backed President Barack Obamas call to require criminal background checks for all gun buyers,yet it remained uncertain if it would become law.
On a party-line vote of 10-8,the Democratic-led panel sent the measure to the full Senate where it faces a possible procedural roadblock that could kill it.
Federally registered firearm dealers are now required to run background checks on buyers. But about 40 percent of sales are made by private dealers who do not have such an obligation.
Obama proposed background checks for all gun buyers after the school massacre in Connecticut last December that left 20 children and six adults dead.
Republicans in the committee lined up against the bill,arguing that private gun sales between family members and friends should be exempted from background checks.
They also oppose a requirement that private sellers keep a paper record of firearm transactions,fearing it could lead to gun registration and eventually even confiscation.
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York,sponsor of the bill,dismissed such fears as unfounded and argued that the measure would reduce crime.
Schumer also said he was optimistic that a bipartisan compromise on background checks could be substituted for the committee bill before it goes to the Senate,likely next month.
Im confident that we will find a compromise, said Schumer.
