NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Mayor Briley has joined over 200 mayors in the United States in signing a letter calling for legislation to strengthen background checks on gun sales. The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer.
"We urge you to immediately call the Senate back to Washington to take action on bipartisan gun safety legislation," the letter begins.
The coalition then points out that there have been over 250 mass shootings in 2019, naming the events that took place in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio over the weekend.
The letter notes two bills passed by the House of Representatives in February, before urging the Senate to pass the bills, as well.
The Bipartisan Background Check Act of 2019 requires all firearm purchases to undergo an NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). This would prohibit unlicensed transfers of guns through unregulated secondary sales.
The other bill, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019, would extend the background check review period deadline from three business days to 10. The idea behind that is to help ensure that background checks are completed before weapons are sold.
Mayor Briley's signing of this letter comes a couple of days after he called for red flag laws in the state of Tennessee.
To read the full letter, which at the time of writing has been signed by 214 mayors, head here.
In Nashville, we know all too well the pain and despair that comes after a mass shooting — but we also know what it means to come together. This week, I joined mayors across America in calling on the Senate to strengthen background checks for gun buyers. https://t.co/japZzdI9ih
— Mayor David Briley (@MayorBriley) August 8, 2019
