Pelosi: Dems ‘will act boldly and decisively’ on new gun laws

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said House Democrats will act “boldly and decisively” to pass gun reform legislation when they take the majority in the House when Congress gets back in session next year.

The likely incoming Speaker said in a statement that the Democratic majority will push for “commonsense” background checks, according to Politico.

“The new Democratic majority will act boldly and decisively to pass commonsense, life-saving background checks that are overwhelmingly supported by the American people,” Pelosi said.

{mosads}Public polling shows a majority of Americans support stricter laws on gun sales as a number of mass shootings have been in the public spotlight in 2018.

Recent shootings at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh and a bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif., have brought the gun control conversation back to the forefront, with Democrats hoping to capitalize on their new majority in the lower chamber.

Shortly after the midterms, Democrats said that passing legislation requiring federal background checks on gun sales will be a priority in the next session of Congress.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) told Politico that he will introduce a universal background check bill.

“It will be strong legislation to expand background checks, and I will have a very respectful show of [co-sponsors],” Thompson told the publication. “I think you will see it happen in the first 100 days.”

Thompson leads a Democratic task force focused on preventing gun violence. His bill would require federal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions.

While the Democratic-controlled House should be able to pass gun reform legislation, getting anything through the GOP-led Senate will be an uphill battle.

Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 that left 26 dead, a Republican-held Senate was unable to pass legislation expanding background checks on gun purchases online and at gun shows.