CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Christopher Murphy (D-CT)

Background Check Expansion Act

S. 3214 · Senate bill Crime and Law Enforcement

A Democratic bill with 44 Democratic cosponsors · See all 46 cosponsors

Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

The "Background Check Expansion Act" seeks to require a background check for every firearm sale. Under this bill, any person who is not a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer cannot transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person without a licensee first taking possession of it. This ensures that licensed entities handle the transfer process. The Act includes several specific exceptions for law enforcement, family transfers, and certain temporary transfers. The new regulations are set to take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Yes

  • Scored +8

    Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?

    The bill requires all firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals to be processed through a licensed dealer to ensure a background check occurs.

The opposite· 3 of 6

  • Scored -4

    Would gun owners be better off under this?

    The bill restricts the ability of individuals to transfer firearms directly to one another without a licensed intermediary.

  • Scored -2

    Would business owners be better off under this?

    The bill increases the regulatory and administrative burden for firearm dealers and manufacturers.

  • Scored -2

    Does this make it easier to run a small business?

    The bill imposes new administrative and compliance duties on licensed dealers and manufacturers during firearm transfers.