5pm Gun Background Check Package 03.24.2021

A LEXINGTON GUN SHOP OWNER SAYS MAKING IT HARDER TO GET A GUN ISN'T THE ANSWER..THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON TIGHTENING EXISTING GUN LAWS.

Veronica jean seltzer.

After two mass shootings in one week...the president is urging congress to swiftly pass gun control laws...and says he may even take action on his own.

...but how are those measures viewed on a local level?

Abc 36's bobbi mcswine spoke to a lexington gun shop owner who says making it harder to get a gun isn't the answer..the focus should be on tightening existing gun laws.

That's tonight's top story at 5.

Jay evans: "i think they need to enforce the laws that we have on the books right now."

Jay evans...owner of evans firearms and archery in lexington...says making it harder to buy these...won't change the epidemic of gun violence in the country.

Evans: "there's a procedure that takes place and i really don't know how much more can be done as far as preventing the wrong person from buying a firearm."

Evans says the process of buying a gun...typically doesn't take long.

Evans: "about 15 minutes."

You fill out a form...and the info is sent to nics...an instant background checker.

Evans says most of his customers are approved...and though he stresses gun safety classes...he says the background check should be enough to walk away the same day.

Evans disagrees with measures passed by the u.s. house to make that process more extensive.

"the bills that i see, you're going to penalize the law- abiding citizen instead of the potential criminal."

One bill would require background checks for private sales...including at guns shows.

'evans: "i don't think that statistics are there that should compromise that."

According to fact check dot org...it's a mixed bag...citing data describing the effect the bill would have as...quote... "inconclusive."

Another bill would increase the window to conduct a background check to ten days...instead of the current three days.

According to fact check dot org...that's how dylann roof purchased the gun he later used to kill nine people in a church in charleston, south carolina in 2015.

Evans says he's not opposed to the bill...but says mass shootings...while sad....are rare....and says energy should be directed toward more pressing matters "you take a weekend in chicago, houston, la, how many people are killed?

I think something needs to be done as far as the mental illness problem we have in the united states and try to address that."

In lexington...bobbi mcswine...abc