• About 40 percent of gun transfers in the U.S. take place without going through a licensed dealer.

• In 2012, millions of guns were sold with no background check.

• In states with background checks required for all unlicensed handgun sales, 38 percent fewer women are shot to death by their partners and 39 percent fewer law enforcement personnel are shot to death with handguns.

The background

Last month, a group launched a signature drive for the “Background Check Initiative.” It would allow Nevada voters on the 2016 ballot to decide whether all gun sales should require background checks.

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