CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — U.S. Rep. Michael Quigley (D-Ill.) said he and others in Congress are hopeful that they can soon pass legislation that will help curb illegal gun sales.
Illinois’ 5th District congressman recently reintroduced what’s called the TRACE Act, which would require background check information to be retained longer by gun dealers. Among other things, it would also make it easier for authorities to obtain background check information and would require new firearms to have a second, hidden serial number.
“Each year, tens of thousands of guns end up in the wrong hands through illegal trafficking,” Quigley said in a press release. “Oftentimes, these illegally purchased or stolen firearms are then used in violent crimes. The United States needs more robust trafficking laws to crack down on illegal sales and mitigate gun violence in our communities.”
Quiqley told WBBM he believes there’s enough support — even in the GOP-controlled House — to pass the bill.
He added that another measure would be more significant, though: approval of universal background checks, which the gun lobby has fought.
“The vast majority of Americans want universal background checks, heck, the vast majority of NRA card holders want background checks,” he said. “You’d think we’d be able to get that done, but we’re swimming upstream against a culture I have a hard time understanding.”
But, Quigley admitted, that remains unlikely.
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