Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

Legislation would expand background checks on gun purchases

Almost 6.6 million guns are sold each year in the United States by unlicensed background checks..

April 19, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prominent national faith leaders and their congregations across the country urged the U.S. Senate to pass the Manchin-Toomey proposal to expand gun background checks to gun shows, Internet and commercial sales. The faith leaders message: With more than 3,300 gun deaths since the Dec. 20 Newtown, Conn., tragedy, Congress must not waste any more precious time.

Nonetheless, the U.S. Senate while voting 55-45 in favor of the Manchin-Toomey legislation failed to pass it because of its supermajority rule requiring 60% of votes to pass the measure.