Media

RALEIGH, N.C. — Environmental groups roundly criticized a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plan on toxic chemicals like GenX on Thursday, saying it doesn't go nearly far or fast enough to address threats to health and water.

Gov. Roy Cooper complained about the plan as well, saying the U.S. government's ballyhooed action plan lacked important detail and a commitment to setting standards on chemicals made in North Carolina and found in drinking water along the Cape Fear River.

The EPA's plan, Cooper said in a statement, "seems to ignore the urgency of the problem."

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee passed legislation known as the Bipartisan Background Check Act Thursday that would mandate background checks on all gun sale transactions and most transfers in the United States.

“This is a bill that will expand criminal background checks to close the gun show loophole and close the Internet sale loophole,” Democrat Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries said of the bill.

With the support of five committee Republicans and after nine hours of debate, the bill passed 21 to 14. Republicans on the Committee attempted to amend the bill.

One of the Democrats' first major moves of the new Congress was introducing major gun control legislation. Now that they have control of the House, anti-gunners feel confident they can pass universal background checks and red flag laws. Our only hope in blocking these bills: the Republicans in the Senate (and even there, some have been wishy-washy on their support for the Second Amendment).