U.S. Senator Mark Kirk is working on legislation intended to slow down the supply of guns on the street.
Kirk is teaming up with Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to increase the penalties for so-called “straw purchases,” where guns are bought, often in bulk, and then resold on the black market, usually winding up in the hands of gang members.
He describes the bill as “the first bipartisan gun safety measure” to be introduced in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings.
Kirk is also working with another Democrat, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, to expand the use of background checks for all gun sales.
