Rep. Horsford says Congress can’t be idle on gun control

Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., says the American people are rightfully frustrated with the inaction by Congress on gun issues.

“I support what two-thirds of Americans support,” he said. “Background checks.”

It’s not right that 40 percent of gun purchases are done without background checks to ensure the buyers are legally entitled to purchase a weapon and not among the mentally ill, he said. Horsford said some 2,000 people have died since the murders at Sandy Hook, and more die every day the law doesn’t require background checks for all gun buyers.

Horsford was unwilling to say whether he is still going to push for an assault-weapons ban. Saying he represents a “very diverse district,” including a large swath of rural Nevada, he said his constituents “want to know whether I respect their right to own a gun.”

“Where I’m at is getting done what we can get done,” he said.

Horsford made the comments following his address to the Nevada Legislature on Tuesday.

He also reaffirmed his support for same-sex marriage rights and hopes the Supreme Court “makes the proper determination.” He pointed out he is among the 200 congressional members who signed a letter to the high court on the issue.