Congressman Joe Morelle was in town to meet with members of Rochester’s Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Chapter Thursday.
Morelle co-sponsors a bill that he says is hopefully making its way to the House of Representatives.
HR 8 would require universal background checks for anyone purchasing a gun.
"I think this is one of the top priorities for the House. One of the top priorities for me personally and I’m looking forward to it about coming to the rules committee, and then passing and I’m a proud co-sponsor of that bill."
He says he engages in meetings like these to get out of the echo chamber of his colleagues in Washington.
"It’s really important to make sure you’re connecting with people back home who are heavily involved in these issues, who are very passionate about these issues, to make sure that we're all on the same page, that we're coordinated."
Morelle said he wanted to hear about the groups priorities for the upcoming year and what his team can do to help. He says gun regulation is all about balance
"Be respectful of the second amendment and the right to bear arms but that doesn’t mean we should have universal background checks in the United States, it doesn’t mean there aren’t other constraints that we ought to put, I think that the vast majority of Americans believe in the kinds of things we are talking about"
Morelle says he expects a vigorous debate but also that the bill will pass.