Rep. Sherrill Votes To Protect Our Communities and Children from Gun Violence

Washington, DC — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted today for two common sense gun safety bills which would require universal background checks for all firearm purchases and would close the “Charleston Loophole.”

“H.R. 8 was the first bill I co-sponsored during my first term in office, because I knew common sense gun safety legislation was long overdue. For two years, Senator McConnell stonewalled this bill despite the widespread national support for universal background checks,” said Rep. Sherrill. “In the aftermath of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting in Charleston, it was clear Congress needed to act to close the loophole in our laws that could allow dangerous people to obtain a firearm. Without NRA-backed Republicans like McConnell controlling Congress, we need to deliver for the American people these crucial safety precautions that will help protect our communities and especially our kids.”

H.R. 8, The Bipartisan Background Check Act of 2021 requires a background check for every gun purchase, including online purchases and those made at gun shows.

H.R. 1446, The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 aims to close the “Charleston Loophole.” Currently, under federal law, if the FBI has not completed a background check within the mandated three day waiting period, the seller can go through with the sale before the results of the check are determined. This loophole allowed murderer Dylan Roof to obtain a firearm and kill nine churchgoers in Charleston in 2015. This bill would prevent gun sales like that one from happening again.

Rep. Sherrill is a former Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor. She qualified as an expert shot in the rifle and pistol in the U.S. Navy and, as a federal prosecutor, worked to keep illegal guns off the streets of New Jersey. As a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Rep. Sherrill helped secure $25 million in landmark funding for the CDC to study gun violence and prevention.

###