McCain, Lieberman Unite Against Gun Show Loophole

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) joined forces Tuesday to introduce a bill aimed at stopping criminals from evading background checks by buying weapons at gun shows.

The legislation would close a loophole that enables people to buy firearms from unregistered dealers at an estimated 4,000 gun shows each year without background checks.

McCain and Lieberman said their bill includes compromises that will give it a better chance of being passed than previous failed versions.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the president supports closing the gun show loophole but favors “instant” background checks rather than a longer period suggested in the McCain-Lieberman bill.

The bill describes a gun show as a place where at least 75 guns are sold. In addition, Lieberman said they had come up with a compromise for those who believe a three-day waiting period is too long for background checks.

He said that after three years states could move from three days to a 24-hour waiting period once their records were certified as sufficiently automated to keep criminals from getting guns.