3 min read US News

Congress Passes Most Significant Gun Legislation in Decades

The bipartisan bill, resulting from weeks of negotiations started in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings, is aimed at removing guns from people deemed dangerous.
Congress Passes Most Significant Gun Legislation in Decades

On Thursday, the Senate passed the most significant firearms legislation in decades, with a coalition of more than a dozen Republicans joining Democrats to provide new tools to deter mass shootings following deadly attacks around the nation, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The 65-33 vote capped a month of negotiations, led by Sens. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) and John Cornyn (R., Texas), who were tasked by the leaders of their respective parties with finding a compromise on one of the most contentious topics in American politics, writes the Journal.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Gun Bill Funding Red-Flag Laws, Mental Health Programs (Wall Street Journal)

Excerpt from the Wall Street Journal: The legislation, which provides roughly $15 billion in funding, would help states put in place and enforce extreme risk protection orders, known as red-flag laws, to remove guns from people deemed dangerous; close the so-called boyfriend loophole related to dating partners; and expand background checks to include juvenile and mental health records for buyers under 21 years old. Of the spending, more than half would be used to fund mental-health programs and bolster school safety.
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Spurred to action by a mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, the Senate passed the measure 65 to 33, with 15 Republicans, including Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, breaking ranks to side with Democrats in support of the measure, according to the New York Times.

"This is not a cure-all for all the ways gun violence affects our nation, but it is a long overdue step in the right direction," Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said on the Senate floor. "It’s significant — it’s going to save lives."

Senate Breaks Decades-Long Impasse on Gun Safety (New York Times)

Excerpt from the New York Times: Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California announced on Thursday night that the House would move to take up the measure on Friday morning. White House officials have said President Biden would sign it, calling the bill "one of the most significant steps Congress has taken to reduce gun violence in decades."
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The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act garnered support from all 50 members of the Democratic caucus and a cadre of deal-making Republicans including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has opposed previous attempts to toughen gun laws after mass shootings, writes the Washington Post.

"This is the sweet spot … making America safer, especially for kids in school, without making our country one bit less free," McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday.

Senate passes bipartisan gun violence bill, marking breakthrough (Washington Post)

Excerpt from the Washington Post: President Biden, who called for much more thorough gun-control measures during a televised address this month, said he intends to sign the bill. "This bipartisan legislation will help protect Americans," he said in a statement after the Senate vote Thursday night. "Kids in schools and communities will be safer because of it."
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UPDATE: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed the House of Representatives on Friday by a vote of 234-193, with 14 Republicans joining all the Democrats. The bill will now be sent to President Biden so it can be signed into law.

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