The Senate’s compromise legislation on gun safety unveiled on Tuesday is potentially the most significant new federal gun safety measure in decades.
It includes includes money for school safety, mental health, state crisis intervention programs and incentives for states to include juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which would provide a more compressive background check for those between the ages of 18 and 21 who want to buy guns.
Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of senators had released an agreement in principle for a deal on bipartisan gun legislation, which notably had the backing of 10 Republican senators.
At least 10 Republican senators need to join Democrats in supporting the bill for it to overcome a filibuster and pass in the Senate.
According to CNN, here’s what’s in the bill:
• $750 million to help states implement and run crisis intervention programs
Money to implement and manage red flag programs, which are aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. (It also can be used for other crisis intervention programs like mental health courts, drug courts and veteran courts.)
• Close the “boyfriend loophole”
Bars anyone who is convicted of a domestic violence crime against someone they have a “continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature” with from having a gun. (It would allow those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes to restore their gun rights after five years if they haven’t committed other crimes.) The provision isn’t retroactive.
• Requires more gun sellers to register as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers
Individuals who sell guns as primary sources of income but have previously evaded registering as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers. (All federally licensed dealers are required to administer background checks before they sell a gun to someone.)
• More thorough reviews of people ages 18-21 who want to buy guns
Includes juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check system with grants, as well as implement a new protocol for checking those records. It gives NICS three days to review an individual’s record. If something potentially disqualifying comes up, NICS gets an additional seven days, if the review is not completed by then, the gun transfer goes through.
• Creates new federal statutes against gun trafficking & straw trafficking
Makes it easier to go after those who are buying guns for individuals who are not allowed to purchase weapons on their own.
• Increased funding for mental health programs & school security
Directed to a series of programs, many of which already exist but would be funded more under the new law.
This legislation largely reflects what was in the bipartisan framework last week, and the biggest challenge is ensuring the 10 Republicans who backed the initial framework are still on board with it.
Gun owners are already pushing back tweeting…
Tell your Senators to VOTE NO on final passage of this bill, which will make gun owners second class citizens.”
Senators who advanced a compromise with your God-given rights:
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) June 22, 2022
Blunt (MO)
Burr (NC)
Capito (WV)
Cassidy (LA)
Collins (ME)
Cornyn (TX)
Ernst (IA)
Graham (TX)
McConnell (KY)
Murkowski (AK)
Portman (OH)
Romney (UT)
Tillis (NC)
Young (IN)
& Toomey (PA) who supports but didn't vote
Yet again, Republicans have made a sport of selling your gun rights out. In contrast, here’s our plan: https://t.co/HgwjyNjLos
— Libertarian Party (@LPNational) June 22, 2022
(Photo, YouTube; via CNN)
