Image by Jason Gillman from Pixabay 

June 22, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On Thursday, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act, legislation that would address flaws in the background check process and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals that courts determine pose a risk of harm to others. U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) will introduce the companion bill in the House. 

Current federal law requires licensed gun dealers to conduct a background check of a firearm buyer through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before completing a sale to ensure that the buyer is not a prohibited purchaser. Yet, the differences between various state and federal background check processes have exposed dangerous vulnerabilities in the system that put Americans at risk. One vulnerability is that jurisdictions are unable to effectively and accurately report the pretrial status of individuals who, as a condition of their pretrial release, are prohibited by a court from purchasing or possessing a firearm.

“When there are individuals who we know pose a risk to public safety, we must ensure they can’t buy a gun and potentially harm or end someone’s life,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will address a dangerous gap in our background check system and ensure that individuals who are prohibited from having a firearms don’t walk into a gun store and buy one. Nearly every community in our country has been touched by gun violence, and this legislation will help protect Americans.”

"I'm proud to stand with Senator Cory Booker and jointly introduce the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act, which will close a loophole in the background check process by flagging anyone on pretrial release who is not permitted to purchase a gun,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “We must fight the gun violence epidemic from every angle, and ensuring that those who are not permitted to possess a gun cannot legally buy one is a critical commonsense step towards keeping our communities safe.”

“Strengthening our background check system is critical to ending the epidemic of gun violence that continues to grip our nation,” said Senator Blumenthal. “This measure will address current gaps in background check systems that enable dangerous individuals to purchase or own a gun. Congress can and must take this commonsense step to save lives and prevent senseless tragedies.”

“Support for universal background checks is nearly unanimous among Americans, but when background checks have misguided loopholes, firearms can still fall into the hands of someone dangerous to themselves or others,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m joining Senator Booker to introduce the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act, which is much needed, commonsense legislation to strengthen background checks.”

The Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act would:

• Amend federal law to deny firearm sales to any person subject to a pretrial release court order that prohibits the person from purchasing, possessing, or receiving guns while awaiting trial.
• Prohibit any person from knowingly selling or disposing of a gun to individuals who fall in this category.
• Authorize $25 million in additional funding to be made available to states to pay for timely and accurate reporting of pretrial orders involving firearms restrictions to NICS

The Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act has been endorsed by the following organizations: Everytown for Gun Safety, Newtown Action Alliance, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

This legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL).

To read the full text of the bill, click here.
Source: Senator Cory Booker