Thread by @sahilkapur

An immigration twist on guns!

As Democrats bring universal background checks to the House floor, Republicans try to force a vote on requiring ICE to be notified when a person who's illegally in the US tries to buy a firearm.

220-209, House Republicans win a "motion to recommit" to amend the gun bill to ensure ICE knows when an undocumented immigrant tries to buy a gun.

Awkward defeat for Democratic leaders, who pushed for a NO vote; 26 Democrats voted YES anyway.

240-190, House passes the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 to require universal background checks for gun buyers.

These 26 House Democrats voted with Republicans to ensure that ICE knows when a person in the US without legal status attempts to buy a gun.

The 8 Republicans who voted to require universal gun background checks:

Buchanan
Diaz-Balart
Fitzpatrick
Hurd
King (NY)
Mast
Smith (NJ)
Upton

The 2 Democrats who voted NO:

Golden
Peterson

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1100860426060025856

When Democrats ran the House from 2007-2011 they didn't touch gun control.

What changed?

1) Public opinion and activism post-Newtown turned toward the cause.

2) Dems' last majority ran through culturally conservative areas, this one doesn't.

In case you’re wondering, don’t expect the House-passed gun background checks bill to advance in the Senate.

Even @SenatorCollins is skeptical—she says she favors Manchin-Toomey but this goes beyond that.