By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
ONE POLICE PLAZA — U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg Wednesday to announce new legislation that would close the so-called "gun show loophole" and increase penalties on states that fail to turn over files to the federal gun background check database.
Under the legislation, which the mayor has urged Congress to pass, states that fail to submit required data about who should be barred from buying guns because of criminal convictions, drug problems or mental illness would be subject to much higher fines.
The bill would raise the punishment from a loss of up to 3 percent of Justice Department grant funds for states that fail to report at least 50 percent of the required data, to a 25 percent fine for states that fail to report 90 percent of the files by 2018 — "a serious penalty," Schumer said.
Fewer than 20 states currently complied fully with the rules, the mayor said.
The proposals would also force all gun buyers to pass a background check, even if they make their purchases at gun shows, which are currently exempt.
"These common sense reforms would help us protect innocent citizens without taking away any rights from law-abiding gun owners," Bloomberg said at a press conference at Police Headquarters, with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Schumer by his side.
Bloomberg, a long-time advocate against illegal guns, has spent the weeks since the tragic shooting in Tucson, A.Z. urging lawmakers in Washington to strengthen laws to keep guns off the street.
Last month, the mayor unveiled video footage of undercover agents easily purchasing guns at an Arizona gun show after telling sellers that they likely would not have been able to pass a background check had they been required to.
Schumer said that, had a bill such as his been on the books sooner, Jared Loughner, the alleged Arizona shooter, would not have been able to purchase his gun.
"If we’ve learned anything in the past two months it’s that we have to do a better job of making sure people who are not supposed to have guns don’t have them," Schumer said, stressing that the legislation would not infringe on legal gun-owners’ rights.
"Those who cannot responsibly own a gun shouldn’t have access to a gun. It’s that simple," he said.
While both Bloomberg and Schumer acknowledged stiff opposition from the National Rifle Association and other gun rights advocates, both said they were optimistic that they could sway the tide.
"It’s not bad politics to save people’s lives," Bloomberg said.
