As Deadly Shooting Anniversaries Approach, Rep. Stupak Praised for Support for Closing Gun Show Loophole

Apr 13, 2010

Washington, D.C. - In 1999, Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan urged that Congress close the gun show loophole, which had allowed two juveniles in Littleton, Colorado to get the guns they used to kill 13 at Columbine High School.  As a result, the gun lobby targeted Stupak for defeat, but he won handily. 

This week, on the heels of his announcement that he will retire, he told the press that he was proud that he had “taken on the National Rifle Association up here,” and pointed out that he had won re-election the following year by a wide margin. (Stupak won by 18 points in 2000). 

“Congressman Stupak was right to support closing the loophole,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  “And when  candidates do the right thing, their constituents stand behind them and support them.  Eleven years after Bart Stupak proved that voting to close the gun show loophole was the right vote, it’s way past time to enact this common sense reform.” 

Polling consistently shows overwhelming support for closing the gun show loophole.  A 2008 poll commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns and conducted by leading Republican pollster Frank Luntz and leading Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg showed fully 87 percent of those polled favored closing the loophole.

Four days before the third anniversary of the Virginia Tech tragedy and a week before the 11th anniversary of the Columbine shootings, more than 100 House members have either signed on or agreed to sign on as co-sponsors of H.R. 2324, a bill to close the gun show loophole by Representives Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Michael Castle (R-DE).  “We urge all members of Congress who want to make it harder for dangerous people to purchase dangerous weapons without a Brady background check to support this bill,” Helmke said. 

Late last year, the Brady Campaign released a five-minute video with highlights of Virginia Tech survivor Colin Goddard’s up close and personal experience with gun shows in states that don’t regulate private sales.  The video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baPgr_tw79Q.

In June 1999, Stupak voted for a very similar measure,.  “I will vote to make sure that all prospective gun purchasers must follow the same instant check system - no exceptions, no excuses, no special treatment,” he said on the House floor.  He pleaded to colleagues to support the measure. “This is the right vote.  I urge you to do the right thing,” he said.  

Only seven out of 50 states have completely closed the gun show loophole.  Ten other states have taken limited steps. The Brady Law requires criminal background checks of gun buyers at federally licensed gun dealers, but unlicensed private sellers are not required to do background checks.  This loophole causes particular problems at gun shows, which give these unlicensed sellers a venue, advertising and customers. In most states convicted felons, domestic violence abusers, and those who are dangerously mentally ill can walk into any gun show and buy weapons from unlicensed sellers, who operate week-to-week with no established place of business, with no questions asked.

The Columbine killers used two shotguns, an assault rifle and a TEC-9 assault pistol to shoot 26 students in April 1999, killing 13. All four guns came from gun show sales. Their friend, Robyn Anderson, bought three of the guns for them from unlicensed sellers at a gun show. After the massacre, Ms. Anderson stated that had she been required to undergo a background check, she would not have purchased the guns.

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The Brady Campaign is the nation's largest citizens' lobby to prevent gun violence. We represent the voice of the overwhelming majority of Americans who are tired of living with the constant tragedy of gun violence and are in favor of strong laws and policies that will save lives. We are the light that exposes politicians who are putting the American people at risk, empowering the American people to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that undermine public safety.

We are driven by the focused vision of a nation where all Americans are safe at home, at work, at school, and in our communities.

Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.

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