The nation's police chiefs are calling for universal background checks for anyone trying to purchase a firearm. At a gathering in Chicago of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the top cops agreed the checks will help keep guns from people who shouldn't carry them.
The call for checks of all purchases and not just those from licensed gun dealers is not new. But in the past, law enforcement officials have lobbied for a wider effort that included longer prison sentences for those convicted of gun crimes.
By narrowing their focus to background checks, the chiefs say they hope they can convince the public to push lawmakers for legislation that will reduce gun violence.
