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Bipartisan background check improvement Senate bill announced

<p>Senators from <a href="https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cornyn-murphy-scott-blumenthal-introduce-fix-nics-act-to-enhance-compliance-ensure-accuracy-of-existing-background-check-system-for-firearms-purchases-" target="_blank">both parties</a> want to prevent mass shootings — not by proposing harder gun control measures, but by boosting enforcement of existing law. </p><p>The Fix NICS Act, unveiled Thursday, aims to make federal agencies and states more vigilant.</p><p>Both are already asked to report crimes that would legally prohibit someone from buying a firearm. But, in many cases, they fail to pass that information on to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System,or NICS. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/gun-control-rivals-team-up-on-bill-to-fix-background-check-database/2017/11/15/47b2ee84-ca57-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html?utm_term=.25c1f159ef62" target="_blank">Washington Post</a> notes the NICS database is missing millions of records for these kinds of convictions.</p><p>That problem became more evident after a mass shooting in Texas earlier this month. The suspect in the shooting was able to buy a gun because the <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/air-force-failed-to-report-church-shooting-suspect-s-record/" target="_blank">U.S. Air Force</a> didn't report his past general court-martial for domestic violence.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/dickey-amendment-still-blocks-solid-gun-control-research/">The Law That's Keeping Congress From Getting The Facts On Gun Violence</a></b></p><p>The proposed act offers either carrot or stick, depending on the target. Congress has power over federal agencies, so the new act would punish them if they fail to upload criminal records. But the federal government can't enforce states on this, so the act would offer them financial incentives.</p><p>A number of high-profile senators are behind the proposal. But two are said to be leading this bipartisan group: Republican Sen. John Cornyn from Texas and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut.</p><p>Murphy joined the Senate shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and has been a vocal supporter of gun control measures. Cornyn, on the other hand, has been a consistent supporter of <a href="https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2014/vote-cornyn/" target="_blank">the NRA</a>. </p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/house-passes-republican-tax-reform-bill/">House Approves Massive GOP Tax Overhaul Bill</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/doj-calls-out-29-jurisdictions-to-stop-sanctuary-policies/">Justice Department Calls Out 29 More Places For 'Sanctuary Policies'</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/more-roy-moore-accusers-come-forward/">More Women Come Forward With Allegations Against Roy Moore</a></li></ul>
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A bipartisan group of US senators announced a bill Thursday to improve reporting in the instant background system called the "Fix NICS Act of 2017, in the wake of the Texas mass shooting perpetrated by a person whose violent criminal record should have prevented him from buying guns.

Two Senate sources told CNN on Wednesday that a bipartisan group of senators were likely to introduce legislation to ensure states and the federal government upload required background check information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

RELATED: What we know about Texas church shooting suspect Devin Patrick Kelley

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who has long called for more gun control legislation, appeared to highlight the effort Thursday.

"BREAKING: We've just introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the gun background check system. Progress is possible!" she tweeted.

The need for the legislation was highlighted after the recent mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where it was later revealed that the shooter was imprisoned for domestic abuse but the Air Force didn't convey that information to NICS, which should have prevented him from buying the guns used in the mass shooting.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut are spearheading the legislation.

The bill represents a rare bipartisan agreement in recent years to pass gun legislation in the wake of several of deadliest mass shootings in modern American history.

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