President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the broadest armed violence bill in decades, a bipartisan compromise that seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school.
“Lives will be saved,” he told the White House. Citing the families of the victims of the shooting, the president said, “His message to us was to do something. Well today we did.”
The House gave final approval on Friday, following Senate approval Thursday, and Biden acted just before leaving Washington for two summits in Europe.
Read more: U.S. Congress sends first major bill on armed violence in decades to Biden
1:46 U.S. Armed Violence Bill to Become Law After House Approves with Bipartisan Support U.S. Armed Violence Bill to Become Law After House Approves with Bipartisan Support
The legislation will tighten background checks on younger gun buyers, prevent firearms from more domestic violence offenders, and help states establish red-flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people considered dangerous.
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Most of its $ 13 billion cost will help bolster mental health programs and aid schools, which have been targeted in Newtown, Connecticut and Parkland, Florida, and elsewhere in mass shootings.
Biden said the commitment made by a bipartisan group of senators “does not do everything I want,” but “includes actions I have called for for a long time and that will save lives.”
“I know there’s a lot more work to do and I’ll never give up, but this is a monumental day,” said the president, who has been accompanied by his wife, Jill, a teacher, for the signing.
1:46 U.S. Senate approves gun violence bill with House approval likely U.S. Senate approves gun violence bill with House approval likely
He said they will host an event on July 11 for lawmakers and families affected by armed violence.
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Biden signed the measure two days after the Supreme Court ruling overturning a New York law that limited people’s ability to carry concealed weapons.
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Read more: U.S. Senate Approves Major Arms Bill in Decades in Mass Shooting
While the new law does not include tougher restrictions long defended by Democrats, such as banning assault-style weapons and background checks for all firearm transactions, it is the most shocking measure of gun violence produced by Congress since the enactment of long-expired assault weapons. ban in 1993.
Enough Republicans in Congress joined Democrats to support the steps following the recent attacks in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. It took weeks of closed-door talks, but senators came up with a compromise.
Biden signed the bill just before leaving Washington for a summit of the Group of Seven major economic powers: the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan in Germany. He will later travel to Spain for a NATO meeting.
2:02 Thousands of people in the United States march to demand changes to gun laws Thousands across the US march to demand changes to gun laws – June 11, 2022
Highlights of the bipartisan bill on armed violence that President Joe Biden signed on Saturday
Extended background checks
State and local mental and youth health records of gun buyers will be part of the federal background checks for buyers between the ages of 18 and 20. The maximum of three days to collect records will be extended to 10 days to search for minor data. If 10 days pass without resolution, the sale will proceed.
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“Groom’s Gap”
Offenders convicted of domestic violence will be denied weapons if they have a current or past “serious serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature” with the victim. The right of aggressors to buy firearms will be restored after five years if no additional violent crimes are committed. Currently, firearms are denied to domestic aggressors if they are married, live or have a child with the victim.
Red flag laws
Federal aid will be given to the 19 states, plus the District of Columbia, which have laws that help authorities obtain court orders to temporarily remove weapons from people deemed dangerous. These states will need strong processes to challenge the firing of firearms. Other states could use money for crisis intervention programs.
Mental health
The bill will expand community behavioral health clinics, help states strengthen mental health programs in schools, and provide more mental health consultations remotely.
Education
The bill will increase spending on school mental health, crisis intervention, violence prevention programs, training of mental health workers and school safety.
Federally licensed arms dealers
Current law requires people “engaged in the business” of selling weapons to have a license, which means they must perform background checks. The bill defines it as the sale of firearms “for profit predominantly,” in an effort to prosecute people who evade the requirement.
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Arms trafficking
The bill will create federal offenses for gun dealers and “straw buyers” who buy guns for people who would not approve background checks. The sentences are up to 25 years in prison. These offenders are now being prosecuted primarily for paperwork violations.
Cost
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of the bill at $ 13 billion, primarily for mental health and schools. This pays off rather than further delaying a 2020 regulation that has never come into force that requires drug manufacturers to give discounts to Medicare recipients. This regulation would increase federal Medicare costs.
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