Close the "Gun Show" Loophole

A few weeks ago I wrote a post advocating for more common sense gun laws. One of the actions I would like to see some legislation put behind are universal background checks. Universal background checks would help close the gun-show loophole and allow for another layer of protection against people who might want to obtain a firearm illegally or cause harm with said firearm. The gun show loophole allows for private citizens to purchase a firearm from dealers at gun shows held across the country. The problem with this loophole is that it allows virtually anyone ages 18-99 to purchase a firearm without submitting to a background check. There are many aspects within our daily lives that we give over information implicitly and do not even think twice about it - internet data, touch ID and face recognition on our phones, online banking, various apps, etc. We are required to submit personal data to obtain a drivers license, health insurance, borrow money, apply to school, go on an airplane; we should be required to submit to a background check to own a firearm. 

Naysayers will argue that "a person who wants to hurt someone will stop at nothing until they do," yes, bad people will find a way to do bad things, but does that mean we should not even try to put up a single fight to deter them from doing so? Universal background checks will not solve every gun problem we have, but they at least will give an understanding that you cannot show walk into a gun show and purchase a firearm if you have a criminal background, mental illness, a warrant etc. Universal background checks are a great start to creating a conversation and action in regards to gun control.

In order to have a better understanding, I consulted Giffords Law Center and an NPR article.