WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), led 45 senators in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Although more than 90 percent of Americans support comprehensive background checks, under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. Research indicates that as many as a quarter of all gun sales in the United States may occur without a background check. U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-4) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-1) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Background Check Expansion Act will require background checks for the sale or transfer of all firearms. This requirement extends to all unlicensed sellers, whether they do business online, at gun shows, or out of their home. Exceptions to the Background Check Expansion Act include transfers between law enforcement officers, temporarily loaning firearms for hunting and sporting events, providing firearms as gifts to immediate family members, transferring a firearm as part of an inheritance, or temporarily transferring a firearm for immediate self-defense.

“Nearly 90 percent of Americans – including the overwhelming majority of gun owners – support universal background checks,” said Murphy. “It’s just common sense that somebody who can’t pass a background check shouldn’t be able to buy a deadly firearm. As Trump endangers lives by getting rid of successful, bipartisan programs that brought down gun violence rates, we’re working to keep guns away from violent criminals and make communities safer.”

“A few years ago, the Senate proved we could enact commonsense gun reform with the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. But we must go further,” said Leader Schumer. “A vast majority of Americans support background checks, and it’s nothing but obedience to the gun lobby and special interests to continue to block the will of the people. As the author of the original Brady Bill, I have dedicated my career to fighting tooth and nail to advance gun safety legislation. This legislation is a vital, broadly supported and long-overdue step in the right direction and will save countless lives in our country from the scourge of gun violence.”

“It is too easy for those prohibited by law to receive guns under our current system. Most Americans support the use of background checks, yet not all gun sales in this country require them. Congress needs to address the ongoing reality that there are far too many guns on our streets,” Durbin said. “The Background Check Expansion Act is long overdue.”

“Our commonsense legislation to expand background checks for all gun sales will spare countless communities from the terror, tragedy, and trauma of gun violence. A national standard for comprehensive background checks is long overdue. I’ll keep fighting to make sure this lifesaving measure becomes law,” said Blumenthal.

In addition to Murphy, Schumer, Durbin, and Blumenthal, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elisa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Angus King (I-Maine), and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) co-sponsored the bill.

Multiple gun violence prevention organizations also endorse the legislation:

“Children deserve to grow up safe in their schools, homes, and communities. Expanding background checks is not just good policy, but a vital step to protect kids and give families peace of mind,” said Mark Barden, co-founder of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. “This bill closes dangerous loopholes in existing law that allow firearms to be sold without any vetting, keeping them away from those who pose a risk to themselves or others, and protecting the lives of young people.”

“The Universal Background Checks Act is straightforward: if a person can’t pass a background check, you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun—regardless of where or how you try to purchase it. This commonsense measure keeps guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous individuals, while still respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. The American people have been demanding this for years; it’s time for Congress to make universal background checks law. We thank Senator Murphy for his steadfast leadership on this legislation,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown.

“Background checks are the bedrock of any serious plan to reduce gun violence, and with more than 90% support in poll after poll, it’s both good policy and good politics," said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety. "We’re grateful Senator Murphy is once again leading the charge to close deadly gaps in our laws, and keep guns out of dangerous hands.”

“Since its implementation, the Brady Background Check System has saved countless lives by preventing over 5 million transactions to prohibited purchasers. Yet, loopholes in the system, exacerbated by the rise of gun shows and sales facilitated by the internet, have allowed for far too many guns to be sold without background checks, leading to devastating consequences. The Background Check Expansion Act will fix this problem by expanding background checks to cover, with limited and reasonable exceptions, every transfer of firearms, fulfilling the mission of our namesakes, Jim and Sarah Brady. We applaud Senator Murphy for introducing this legislation and for his steadfast dedication to freeing America from gun violence,” said Kris Brown, Brady President.

Full text of the bill can be found here.