New Fact Sheet: Background Checks for All Gun Sales Will Save Lives and Help Police Catch Criminals

NEW YORK, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a letter from Mayors Against Illegal Guns:

Dear Editors and Producers, 

As you know, the background check bill we strongly support passed the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup last week.  I wanted to make sure you saw our latest fact sheet about private gun sales here that shows how background checks keep criminals from getting guns and help police solve crimes.

Under current federal law, only licensed gun dealers are required to conduct background checks and keep sales records. Criminals can and do avoid background checks by purchasing guns from "private sellers" who are not required to conduct them. An estimated 6.6 million guns were transferred this way in 2012.

The bipartisan coalition of more than 900 Mayors Against Illegal Guns strongly supports expanding the system so that private sellers can conduct background checks and record their sales, just as gun dealers have for forty years. This will greatly reduce the number of gun sales to felons, domestic abusers, the severely mentally ill, and other dangerous people.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any additional questions.

Best, 
Erika

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns