--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Universal background checks and closing…" description: "\"Universal background checks and closing existing loopholes can prevent prohibited purchasers, such as convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/john-fetterman-6257_amendment_universal-background-checks-and-closing_2599222.jpg" --- # Universal background checks and closing existing loopholes… ![“Universal background checks and closing existing loopholes can prevent prohibited purchasers, such as convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill and domestic abusers from accessing guns.” quote by John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/john-fetterman-6257_amendment_universal-background-checks-and-closing_2599222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/john-fetterman-6257_amendment_universal-background-checks-and-closing_2599222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/john-fetterman-6257_amendment_universal-background-checks-and-closing_2599222.jpg) > “Universal background checks and closing existing loopholes can prevent prohibited purchasers, such as convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill and domestic abusers from accessing guns.” [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comprehensive background checks and closing loopholes can stop dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms. **In simple terms:** Background checks can block dangerous gun buyers. Key Takeaway Support stricter gun safety laws. Themes public safety policy rights Mood serious urgent Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - legislative drafting - community safety programs - law enforcement training Key Concepts gun control risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure fairness? - How to address enforcement challenges? A Different Perspective Balancing rights with safety is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Background](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background/) [Background checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-checks/) [Closing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closing/) [Domestic abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domestic-abuse/) [Existing Loopholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existing-loopholes-1929364/) [Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns/) [Loopholes Prevent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loopholes-prevent-1929361/) [Mentally ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-ill/) [Prevent Prohibited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevent-prohibited-1929362/) [Prohibited Purchasers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prohibited-purchasers-1929363/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) ## Related quotes > [I want to protect our constitutional right to bear arms in a legal and thoughtful way with background checks that also don't want people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-want-to-protect-our-constitutional-right-to-bear-arms-in-a-legal/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Expanding background checks will help create a uniform standard for all gun purchases and prevent criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from obtaining powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/expanding-background-checks-will-help-create-a-uniform-standard-for/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [The information hack contains facts discovered by the FBI in doing background checks for people seeking positions with the federal government. It's a treasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-information-hack-contains-facts-discovered-by-the-fbi-in-doing/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There's no reason that there shouldn't be universal background checks to ensure guns don't get in the hands of people who should not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/there-s-no-reason-that-there-shouldn-t-be-universal-background-checks/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [Obama, Bloomberg and nearly every politician and gun-ban zealot pushing for a universal background check system are on record supporting mandatory gun registration, outright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/obama-bloomberg-and-nearly-every-politician-and-gun-ban-zealot/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) > [Most Americans think there's already universal background checks. They don't understand why there wouldn't be a background check to purchase a weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/most-americans-think-there-s-already-universal-background-checks-they/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I support common-sense measures like universal background checks to prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/i-support-common-sense-measures-like-universal-background-checks-to/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [Expanding background checks for all sales and transfers of firearms is simple, popular, and commonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/expanding-background-checks-for-all-sales-and-transfers-of-firearms/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [We are going to trace more effectively, how these guns are ending up on the streets, to unscrupulous gun dealers, who often times are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-are-going-to-trace-more-effectively-how-these-guns-are-ending-up/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Should we have background checks, waiting periods? To drive a car you have to pass a test that shows you know how to drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-barnes/should-we-have-background-checks-waiting-periods-to-drive-a-car-you/) [Michael D. Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-barnes/) > [Making improvements to our background check system and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking are common-sense ways to prevent violence without punishing law abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heinrich/making-improvements-to-our-background-check-system-and-cracking-down/) [Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/) > [“None of these shootings, nor others that the president has mentioned, would have been stopped if background checks on private transfers had been required.4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-lott-jr/none-of-these-shootings-nor-others-that-the-president-has-mentioned/) [John R. Lott Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-lott-jr/) > [There are corporate private investigators, companies doing very forensic background checks on people. They buy data, they get their own data... They don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/there-are-corporate-private-investigators-companies-doing-very/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I believe law-abiding citizens ought to be able to own a gun. I believe in background checks at gun shows or anywhere to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-law-abiding-citizens-ought-to-be-able-to-own-a-gun-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We think it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere, for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/we-think-it-s-reasonable-to-provide-mandatory-instant-background/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) ## More by John Fetterman > [If we turn our backs on the remaining industries and not reinvest in these places and just say 'You're on your own,' we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/if-we-turn-our-backs-on-the-remaining-industries-and-not-reinvest-in/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I said you could sue a ham sandwich. It's not going to change anything. Well, you can audit a ham sandwich, and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-said-you-could-sue-a-ham-sandwich-it-s-not-going-to-change-anything/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [We must never stop pushing for equal protection under the law in Pennsylvania and across the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-must-never-stop-pushing-for-equal-protection-under-the-law-in/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [We use art to combat the dark side of capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-use-art-to-combat-the-dark-side-of-capitalism/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I have said this before. Donald Trump is very popular in Pennsylvania. We cannot afford to underestimate his popularity in our state. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-have-said-this-before-donald-trump-is-very-popular-in-pennsylvania/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I'm proud that my family and I live across the street from a steel mill and a union hall. This is where my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-m-proud-that-my-family-and-i-live-across-the-street-from-a-steel/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [You can't live in a town like Braddock and not know exactly what gunfire sounds like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/you-can-t-live-in-a-town-like-braddock-and-not-know-exactly-what/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [In fact, I've been around guns for most of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/in-fact-i-ve-been-around-guns-for-most-of-my-life/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I don't mean to look scary, it's just kind of what I have to work with. Maybe that's why my tattoos are literally the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-don-t-mean-to-look-scary-it-s-just-kind-of-what-i-have-to-work-with/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I'm in the camp that says that if you're to the right of South Dakota on anything, you should use that as a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-m-in-the-camp-that-says-that-if-you-re-to-the-right-of-south-dakota/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I've said to workers that I don't care what you agree with me on politically - I hope it's as many things as possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-ve-said-to-workers-that-i-don-t-care-what-you-agree-with-me-on/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [Whether it's leaders from my own town of Braddock or leaders across the state in Bucks County or Adams County, I'm committed to always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/whether-it-s-leaders-from-my-own-town-of-braddock-or-leaders-across/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [If there's ever a boot that comes down to the union way of life or some other kind of arrangement or some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/if-there-s-ever-a-boot-that-comes-down-to-the-union-way-of-life-or/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [On my left arm, I have the zip code 15104. That's Braddock, Pennsylvania, my home and the community I was honored to serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/on-my-left-arm-i-have-the-zip-code-15104-that-s-braddock-pennsylvania/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [We can't let ourselves stop believing in Second Chances for everyone. That's why my role on the Board of Pardons is so important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-can-t-let-ourselves-stop-believing-in-second-chances-for-everyone/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) [Explore all 99 John Fetterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) [Daniel D. Polsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-polsby/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. 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