Sarbanes Statement on the Passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act [Video]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after voting for H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 240-190:

"For the first time in too long, Congress has taken a meaningful step toward improving gun safety in America. This bill lays down an important marker and signals to the public that we can take serious, bipartisan action to reduce the epidemic of gun violence that has touched nearly every community in this country – including Maryland communities like Annapolis, Baltimore, Aberdeen and Great Mills.

"Closing loopholes in our nation's background check system is a basic, commonsense policy – but it's not a panacea. We must seize on this moment and continue building momentum behind additional reforms that can reduce gun violence and save lives. This includes banning assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, raising the age to buy a semiautomatic rifle to 21, and importantly, authorizing the CDC to conduct gun violence research and begin to treat the epidemic of gun violence as a public health crisis. I look forward to working with my colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – to advance these kinds of effective and widely supported gun safety reforms."

Congressman Sarbanes also released a brief video statement on the passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act:

###