The House on Friday passed bipartisan gun legislation that was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate the night before, sending it to President Biden to sign. It marks the most important update of the nation’s gun laws in nearly three decades.
The bill, called The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed the lower house by a 234-193 vote, with 14 Republicans joining all Democrats.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi read the vote count after concluding with applause from members of Congress.
The bill improves background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21, provides billions of dollars for mental health services and to harden schools, and closes the so-called “boyfriend’s loophole” to prevent that convicted domestic aggressors buy a firearm for five years. The plan also provides $ 750 million in grants to encourage states to implement crisis intervention programs, clarifies the definition of a federally licensed firearm distributor, and creates criminal sanctions for the purchase of straw and arms trafficking.
From left, Texas Democrat Veronica Escobar, California Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Democrat Jimmy Gomez listen as they attend an event on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Armed Violence Friday, June 24, 2022. J. Scott Applewhite / AP
The president has indicated he will sign the bill soon.
The passage of legislation by both houses puts an end to nearly 30 years of inaction by Congress, which has been unable to find a common ground on changes to federal firearms laws, even in the midst of ‘an increase in armed violence and mass shootings across the country.
But after the shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, which left a total of 31 dead, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut and John Cornyn of Texas, was encouraged to find a consensus on a tighter weapon. laws again, giving rise to the plan now heading to Mr. Biden’s desk.
The Senate passed Bill 65-33 Thursday night, with 15 Republicans voting in favor of the measure. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton did not vote, nor did Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, who is in North Dakota recovering from a serious hand injury. All Democratic senators voted in favor of the bill.
The House began procedural voting on the bill Friday morning and passed it hours later, just before lawmakers are expected to leave Washington for a two-week recess. Democrats generally supported the plan, but Republican House leaders encouraged its GOP members to oppose the legislation, arguing it was part of an effort to erode the rights of the Second Amendment. law-abiding Americans.
Still, the plan garnered the support of a small coalition of Republicans, including Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Uvalde, where a gunman last month killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school.
Shortly after the Texas massacre, bipartisan Senate negotiators began talks to reach an agreement in response to the latest wave of mass shootings. They released a framework for the proposal earlier this month and unveiled the legislation on Tuesday.
The Senate plan is smaller than a package of bills passed by the House last month, which, among other reforms, would raise the minimum age for acquiring a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21 and ban large magazines. capacity. This legislation, however, would not have gained the support of enough Republicans to advance in the Senate.
Although the bill also does not reach what Mr. Biden has urged Congress to do so, supports legislation and on Thursday called on the House to act quickly.
“Tonight, after 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to address the call of families across the country and passed legislation to address the scourge of armed violence in our communities.” Mr Biden said after the legislation was passed in the Senate on Thursday. . “The families of Uvalde and Buffalo, and too many tragic shootings before, have demanded action. And tonight, we have acted. This bipartisan legislation will help protect Americans. Children in schools and communities will be safer for this. “The House of Representatives should soon. Vote on this bipartisan bill and send it to my desk.”
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Kathryn Watson
Kathryn Watson is a political journalist for CBS News Digital based in Washington, DC