WASHINGTON — Following is the statement of Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association, regarding H.R. 8, a bill to require universal background checks before gun sales:
“To address gun violence as a public health crisis, everyone in the community must work together — law enforcement, public officials, schools, behavioral health experts and communities of faith,” Evans said. “The American Psychological Association applauds Congressman Mike Thompson for introducing the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. Gun violence can be prevented and this bipartisan legislation will make positive inroads in preventing future tragedies.”
The proposal would require federal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions. However, there would be some notable exemptions to those checks, such as transfers between family members or temporary use of a gun for hunting. Federally licensed gun sellers are required to run background checks on people who buy guns, but private sellers who are not federally licensed do not. Gun control groups estimate that roughly one-fifth or more of gun sales do not include background checks.
Thompson, of California, heads up a Democratic task force on gun violence. He introduced the bill on Jan. 8. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., and has at least four other GOP supporters.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.