COLORADO SPRINGS — Newly introduced legislation proposes a federal law requiring background checks for ammunition sales. "Extending existing federal requirements on firearms sales to ammunition will reduce gun violence and suicide, making our communities safer,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. Weiser signed his endorsement with ten other state Attorneys General, asking leaders of congress to pass the legislation.
The legislation is called Jamie's Law. It is in memory of Jaime Guttenberg who died during the 2018 Parkland shooting in Florida. Her father is lobbying for tougher laws.
The owner of Dragon Arms in El Paso County calls the proposal “ridiculous.” Mel Berstein is fine with background checks for guns. He says ammunition is different. In Colorado a background check is only good for the day you purchase a gun. Bernstein says it is an unfair expense for ammo which is an item that gets spent and has to be replaced. "Let's say a guy comes in, he wants to buy one box of 9mm, $15 a box. So, then we have to do the background check that takes a lot of time and then have to pay $10.50 to do the background check." Bernstein also wonders about how this would apply to the supplies for people who reload their own ammunition.
The bill is at the introduction stage. Debate among lawmakers in Washington D.C. is still ahead.
