Rep. Bobby Scott Pledges Hearings on Gun Show Loophole Bill

WASHINGTON --- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence today expressed their appreciation to Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) for making a commitment to hold a hearing on legislation to close the gun shop loophole.

A bill requiring Brady background checks on all firearms purchases at gun shows was introduced last year by Representatives Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Michael Castle (R-DE). Scott, who chairs the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security of the House Judiciary Committee, pledged to hold the hearing at a recent meeting with Lori Haas, whose daughter, Emily Haas, survived the April 2007 Virginia Tech shooting that left 32 dead.

“Our organizations look forward to working together with Congressman Scott and the rest of the committee as we move forward to pass this critical legislation,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign.

“This hearing will show that gun shows are a venue where felons, domestic abusers and others prohibited from purchasing firearms can acquire guns with no background check and no questions asked.  The passage of this legislation is long overdue” said Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition.

Last week, 65 family members of fallen and wounded victims and nine gunshot survivors from the Virginia Tech University tragedy of 2007 sent a letter to Rep. Scott thanking him for making the commitment that as chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security of the House Judiciary Committee he would hold hearings, stating that:

“We, the family members and the survivors of the tragedy at Virginia Tech are committed to closing the gun show loophole, one of the last remaining recommendations in the (Virginia) Governor’s Panel Report* We especially would like to thank you for your commitment to hold House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security hearings on legislation to close the Gun Show Loophole.”

Signers of the letter include the following gunshot victims from Virginia Tech Kristina Heegar Anderson, Katelyn Carney, Allison Cook, Colin Goddard, Lily Habtu, Emily Haas, Sean McQuade, Derek O’Dell and Kevin Sterne.

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.