GOP lawmaker seeks background checks on candidates

The proposal by the House Minority Leader comes as legislators consider a bill expanding criminal background checks for gun purchases to include most private sales. Short says his bill has been under consideration for several weeks and that the timing of its announcement Friday – just one day after the House passed the gun background check bill – is just coincidence. Under Short’s proposal, any candidate running for state, county or municipal office on the general election ballot would have to submit to a criminal background check. Short notes that the state already requires such checks for people working in other positions of trust, such as doctors, nurses, teachers and therapists. “”So we’re dealing with the state elected officials; we’re dealing with county elected officials; we’re dealing with those municipal elections that occur in those time frames as well” says Short. “I think you also set the example but imposing that same rule on yourself. I mean, we’re requiring others to do it, so why wouldn’t we think that it would be fair for us to do it as well?”]]>