Vulnerable GOP lawmaker signs onto gun control bill

Rep. Robert Dold (Ill.), one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents heading into 2016, has authored legislation with a liberal Democrat to prevent domestic violence perpetrators from accessing guns.

Dold and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced a bill this week that would prohibit people who have abused dating partners from buying or owning guns. Current law prevents individuals convicted of abusing a spouse, household member or co-parent from obtaining firearms, but not current or former significant others.

The two lawmakers presented their proposal as a way to mitigate opportunities for people predisposed to domestic violence to have access to guns.

{mosads}”No woman and no child should ever live in fear of their life or their safety because of domestic violence,” Dingell said in a statement.

“As a society, we should have zero tolerance for domestic abuse and need to do everything we can to stop domestic violence from turning into domestic murder,” Dold added.

This isn’t the first gun control bill Dold has signed onto since taking office this year. In March, he cosponsored a bill to expand background checks for all gun purchases.

Dold, who represents a swing district representing the Chicago suburbs, first won his seat in 2010 but lost two years later to Democrat Brad Schneider. He won it back in 2014 during the midterm elections that expanded the House GOP majority. Schneider is gearing toward a rematch in 2016 in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive races of the cycle.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced similar legislation earlier this year, but so far her bill does not have any Republican cosponsors. 

Even with Dold as a cosponsor, the bill faces long odds in the GOP-controlled House. Republicans have shown little inclination to consider gun control legislation since taking over the majority in 2011.