Gun show loophole bill is back in Congress

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WASHINGTON, July 19 (UPI) -- Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., said Sunday she has reintroduced a bill in Congress designed to require background checks for purchasers at gun shows.

The Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2009, is in a House committee and a Senate committee has a similar bill, McCarthy said.

"Closing the gun show loophole is a common-sense measure that we know can save lives," she said. "The time has long since (passed) to fix this loophole in our system and make our communities safer and prevent more illegal guns from pouring out onto our streets."

Licensed dealers at gun shows require the same background checks they do at their shops, but in more than 30 states, private sellers can operate at gun shows without requiring background checks, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star Telegram reported Sunday.

Supporters -- including many state and federal criminal justice officials -- cite federal statistics indicating authorities stopped more than 1.6 million attempts to buy guns at gun stores by felons, fugitives from justice and domestic violence offenders since 1994.