Congressman Neguse Passes Amendment through Congress to Provide Greater Transparency on FBI Background Checks

The amendment passed with landmark gun violence prevention measures, including a universal background checks bill 

Washington D.C.— Today, Congressman Joe Neguse passed an amendment through the U.S. House of Representatives which would ensure greater transparency from the FBI on criminal background checks for gun purchases. The amendment would require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release an annual report, made available to the public, that provides disaggregated information on background check denials not made within the 10-day window period, established by H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021. 

“In Colorado, we know the tragedy of lives lost to gun violence all too well. Our communities have lived it far too many times. Strengthening criminal background checks for gun purchases is a broadly supported, common-sense step we can take to reduce the threat of gun violence and keep our communities and our kids safe,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “Today, the House passed a package of bipartisan bills to enact nationwide universal background checks, action that is long-overdue and sorely needed. My amendment, which passed alongside the package, would provide additional transparency from the FBI to better understand gaps in our current background check system and how we can address and strengthen our processes for the future.” 

View the Congressman’s remarks on H.R. 8 on the House floor here.

The Neguse amendment passed the House alongside H.R. 1446, The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, part of a package of common-sense bipartisan gun violence prevention measures taken up in the House this week. 

The package of landmark and bipartisan gun violence prevention bills include:

• H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act – which requires background checks on all firearm sales, and
• H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act – which would end the Charleston Loophole that enabled the horrific hate crime at Mother Emanuel AME Church that killed nine innocent people.

Specifically, the Neguse amendment calls for an FBI report to outline: 

• The number of petitions received by the national instant criminal background check system; 
• The number of the individuals who were discovered to be ineligible under federal or state law during the petition process;
• The number of the individuals who were discovered to be ineligible under federal or state law after the ten day period; 
• The basis of the ineligibility of these petitioners; and
• The number of individuals prosecuted within the 12 month period on the basis of denials post-petition.

Background on Congressman Neguse’s Gun Violence Prevention Initiatives

Congressman Neguse has consistently advocated for increased funding for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to support the state’s background check system.  

On April 17, 2019, schools across Colorado’s Front Range were closed due to the threat of an 18-year old woman who had purchased a shotgun in Colorado after flying from her home state of Florida. The Colorado gun shop that sold the woman the shotgun stated that she passed the required criminal background check, but a review of federal law shows the transaction should not have been allowed to take place. Following the incident, Congressman Neguse sent a letter to the FBI requesting answers as to why the background check was approved. 

###