Every day, 120 Americans are killed with guns, a rate that is 26 times higher than that of other developed countries.

Background checks are an essential tool that helps keep guns out of the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others. They can identify people who are prohibited by federal law from owning them, such as convicted felons and domestic abusers.

Right now, a loophole in our current law gives prohibited people an easy and dangerous way to obtain guns. Federal law only requires background checks when the gun seller is a licensed dealer. Unlicensed private sellers, including sales at gun shows and online, aren’t required to perform background checks. Almost a quarter of people buying guns did so without a background check.

States that require universal background checks for all gun sales were associated with 10 percent lower homicide rates.

More than 97 percent of Americans, including gun owners, support universal background checks.