A bipartisan group of senators has come to an agreement on possible gun control legislation that would include stricter laws on gun trafficking, background checks and increased funding for school safety and mental health, among other items.
“We have a deal,” Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted on Sunday. “Today, a bipartisan group of 20 senators (10 (Democrats) and 10 (Republicans)) is announcing a breakthrough agreement on gun violence – the first in 30 years– that will save lives.”
🚨NEWS: We have a deal. Today a bipartisan group of 20 Senators (10 D and 10 R) is announcing a breakthrough agreement on gun violence – the first in 30 years – that will save lives.
I think you’ll be surprised at the scope of our framework.
1/ Here’s what it includes:
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
The legislation includes funding to help states pass and implement crisis intervention orders, also known as “Red Flag Laws.” The Red Flag Laws would allow authorities to confiscate weapons from people deemed dangerous.
Murphy also said “billions in new funding” would be earmarked for mental health and school safety measures across the country.
The legislation also fixes what’s been called “the boyfriend loophole,” which prevents domestic abusers from obtaining a gun if they are convicted of abusing their partner, the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Our plan saves lives while also protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans,” the senators wrote in the bill. “We look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our commonsense proposal into law.”
The bipartisan legislation follows the House’s passing of a measure that raises the minimum age required to buy a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21. The House measure would also bolster the background checks for under 21 gun buyers and ensure that “all truly commercial sellers are doing background checks,” the National Review reports.
“Young buyers can get the gun only after the enhanced check is completed,” Murphy said.
Background checks are not required for gun sales and transfers by unlicensed and private sellers.
According to CNN, the proposed legislation does not include a provision that would approve a federal ban on military-style assault weapons.
President Joe Biden said of the bipartisan proposal that it “would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades.”
Related:
What We Know about Gunmen Who Carry Out Mass School Shootings
Gun Control Isn’t All-or-Nothing, but a Sacred Trust
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/STILLFX
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
