A bipartisan group of senators announced a breakthrough agreement on Sunday for gun safety legislation following recent mass shootings.
The agreement includes the support of at least 20 Senators, who have worked to find solutions to the highly divisive issue of gun reform. The bipartisan group issued the following statement on Sunday:
“We are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country. Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities. Our plan increases needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can’t purchase weapons. Most importantly, our plan saves lives while also protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. We look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our commonsense proposal into law.”
The group includes 10 Republicans, which could overcome a filibuster with a final bill to achieve the 60 vote supermajority requirement for passing legislation in the Senate. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted that the agreement, which is the first in 30 years, will save lives.
“Will this bill do everything we need to end our nation’s gun violence epidemic? No. But it’s real, meaningful progress. And it breaks a 30-year log jam, demonstrating that Democrats and Republicans can work together in a way that truly saves lives,” Murphy tweeted.
The buyers under the age of 21 will be required to undergo mental health records and background checks. According to negotiators, the enhanced background checks will be performed using state databases and local law enforcement. Lawmakers said there will be clarification of the laws regarding who needs to register as a licensed gun dealer to ensure all truly commercial sellers are doing background checks.
The proposal will provide federal funding for states to enact State Crisis Intervention Orders, known as red flag laws, that will allow law enforcement to temporarily seize weapons from people who pose a danger to others or themselves.
There will be investments in children and family mental health services, including money to build out communtiy mental health clinics. According to the proposal, these investments will expand mental health and supportive services in schools, such as early identification and intervention programs, school-based mental health, and wrap-around services.
Lawmakers said they plan to help institute safety measures in schools, support school violence prevention efforts, and provide training to school personnel and students. Federal funds will invest in programs that increase access to mental and behavioral health services for youth and families in crisis via telehealth.
There will be efforts to close what lawmakers call the “boyfriend loophole”, to prevent convicted domestic violence abusers, whether it be a spouse or serious dating partner, from buying a gun. Penalties will be imposed for those who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns.
President Biden took to social media to express support for the bipartisan agreement, though it has fallen short of stricter actions pursued by gun reform activists, such as bans on assault weapons or increasing the purchase age requirement from 18 to 21.
“It does not do everything that I think is needed, but it reflects important steps in the right direction, and would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades. With bipartisan support, there are no excuses for delay and no reason why it should not quickly move through the Senate and the House. Each day that passes, more children are killed in this country: the sooner it comes to my desk, the sooner I can sign it, and the sooner we can use these measures to save lives,” Biden said.
