Phew, it has been a long week with various laws enacted across various platforms among those the first major gun law bills were passed since the 90’s. Bills that would stem gun violence in the country were sent to President Biden by the House. Despite the deep partisan divide that persists, Congress on Friday passed a compromise that reflects both progress on a long-standing problem and the progress made.
Voters’ revulsion over the mass shootings in New York and Texas sparked a spurt of action in the Democratic-led chamber 234-193. Sen. Jim Inhofe cast a bipartisan vote of 65-33 to approve the measure late Thursday night.
In a press conference at the White House on Saturday morning, Biden is expected to sign the legislation.
The measure was approved by every Democrat and 14 Republicans – six of whom will not represent their districts next year. Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged the significant vote with applause as she announced the result.
Rep. Liz Cheney has also helped create sharp divisions inside her party’s leadership because of her support for the law. Rep. Cheney is leading the House investigation into the Capitol insurrection by supporters of former President Donald Trump last year.
According to her statement, “as a mother and a constitutional conservative,” she believed the bill would curb social unrest, emphasizing: “Nothing in the bill restricts the rights of responsible gun owners. Period.”
In the week leading up to the gun vote, the Supreme Court issued two jarring opinions on two of the nation’s most infuriating culture war issues, making the juxtaposition impossible to ignore. In a ruling on Thursday, the justices overturned a law that restricted people’s access to concealed weapons.
In the bill, drafted by senators from both parties, gun purchases would be difficult for young people, domestic abusers would be denied firearms, and authorities would be able to temporarily seize weapons from deemed harmful individuals. In Newtown, Connecticut, Parkland, Florida, and many other murders, the $13 billion would go toward mental health programs and schools.
Congress has not enacted any firearms violence measure since 1993, when it passed a now-expired assault weapons ban. A ban on assault weapons and background checks for all gun sales are not part of it. Democrats have long fought for these tougher restrictions.
One month ago, 19 students and two teachers died at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and 10 shoppers in Buffalo, New York, just days earlier. The new legislation was inspired by these tragedies. Many lawmakers said constituents are clamoring for congressional action after those shootings, an expression of concern they feel cannot be disregarded.
The Second Amendment provides protection to many conservatives who own guns, a key right that is enshrined in the Constitution.
All Democratic senators and 15 Republican senators voted in favor of the compromise. Of those 15 Republicans, only two face re-elections.
Just 1 in 15 House Republicans supported the measure, fewer than a third of GOP senators. Even though the GOP is expected to win control over the House and perhaps the Senate in the November elections, the fate of future gun legislation is uncertain.
In part to secure the Republican Party’s support for its November attempt to retake the Senate, McConnell kept close tabs on negotiations that produced the bill. The more conservative Republicans in the House and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy opposed it.
The National Rifle Association and other firearms groups opposed the legislation. Despite being backed by groups such as Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety, gun curbs were not supported by them. The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police also supported the movement.
As part of the compromise, gun buyers aged 18 to 20 will now have their local juvenile records examined as part of the background check process. Both Uvalde and Buffalo’s shooters were 18.
Those who have been convicted of domestic abuse – whether they are in a relationship with the victim or an ex-partner – will be prohibited from obtaining firearms if they are in a relationship, not merely spouses or people who lived with or had children with the person they abused. This closes what is known as the “boyfriend loophole.”
States will receive money for enforcing “red flag” laws that allow officials to temporarily take guns from people deemed a threat, and for violence prevention programs in other states. Federal licenses and background checks would be required for more people who sell weapons.
In addition to tougher gun trafficking penalties, billions of dollars are provided for mental health clinics and school psychological health programs. School safety programs are also financed.
There is no doubt in my mind that the American people want change. Social change is made possible by movements like this. Only time will tell how current legislation will affect America.
Citations.
Text – H.R.8 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Bipartisan background checks … (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8/text
Associated Press. (2022, June 24). Highlights of bipartisan gun violence bill ok’d by Senate. AP NEWS. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/congress-gun-violence-bill-highlights-ab399a7a1c5eea98bcd12e944679355f
Fram, A. (2022, June 24). Senate Oks Landmark Gun Violence Bill, House Passage is next. AP NEWS. Retrieved June 24, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-new-york-violence-buffalo-21932705343ec6ff172561ad95c287d1
Gresko, J. (2022, June 24). After Supreme Court gun decision, what’s next? AP NEWS. Retrieved June 24, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-what-to-know-a068d964981b6d1242a5ab124224f77a
Page Home. Everytown. (2022, June 25). Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.everytown.org/
United Against Gun Violence. Brady. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.bradyunited.org/
Jonathon M. Poe 