President Barack Obama discussed his plans yesterday to reduce gun violence through executive action, a move local Congresswoman Cheri Bustos was quick to announce support for.
In a statement, Bustos says she supports the expansion of criminal background checks that would make purchasing guns more difficult for convicted criminals.
In December, the East Moline Democrat co-sponsored a bipartisan proposal to close loopholes and expand the use of criminal background checks.
The King-Thompson bill, penned by New York Republican Rep. Pete King and Democratic California Rep. Mike Thompson, was aimed at expanding criminal background checks for internet sales, classified ads and gun shows.
She sites studies that suggest criminal background checks stop “more than 170 felons, some 50 domestic abusers, and nearly 20 fugitives from buying a gun” every day where checks are used.
Yesterday, a teary eyed Obama said the lack of gun control following events like the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut have been a frustration, adding: “Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad.”
