House

The 9 House Republicans who support background checks

Two mass shootings last weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that killed a combined 31 people have reinvigorated the debate in Washington over gun control.

While Democrats have pushed for a slate of measures ranging from universal background checks to a ban on assault weapons after the shootings, Republicans have so far mostly focused on so-called red flag laws that allow law enforcement to bar those suspected of posing a threat to themselves or others from getting a weapon.

{mosads}Some in the GOP have opened the door to debating an expansion of background checks on Capitol Hill, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying both red flag laws and background checks would be “front and center” when Congress returns from recess in mid-September.

The House earlier this year passed two resolutions that, among other things, would impose universal background checks and lengthen the amount of time a gun seller has to wait for an FBI background check to clear from three days to 10 days.

The entire House Democratic caucus voted to expand background checks except for Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Collin Peterson (Minn.).

Here are the nine House Republicans who voted in February in support of the background check legislation or came out in support of it recently:

Rep. Vern Buchanan (Fla.)

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.)

Rep. Will Hurd (Texas) *

Rep. Pete King (N.Y.)

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) **

Rep. Brian Mast (Fla.)

Rep. Chris Smith (N.J.)

Rep. Fred Upton (Mich.)

 

* Not seeking reelection in 2020

** Came out in support of background checks after recent shootings