At last.
Politicians in Washington, D.C. — even enough Republicans to overcome the arcane and obstructionist Senate filibuster — will soon vote on gun safety legislation.
The proposed legislation, called the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, includes commonsense provisions that would:
- Expand background checks for anyone under the age of 21 who seeks to buy a gun.
- Make it harder for perpetrators of domestic violence to legally purchase firearms.
- Fund increased access to mental health services and provide additional support for the national suicide prevention hotline.
- Provide $750 million in federal funding to help states implement red flag laws that provide a fair process for temporarily taking guns away from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.
- Require more firearms sellers to register as federally licensed dealers and to keep records of their sales.
- Crack down on gun trafficking.
- Impose penalties on “straw” purchasers who buy guns for other people who wouldn’t pass background checks.
An overwhelming majority of Americans support measures like these to prevent at least some of the murders, suicides, and mass shootings that plague our nation like no other developed country on Earth.
While this compromise legislation is woefully insufficient, it would nonetheless be the most substantive gun safety legislation in decades.
And with today’s preposterous Supreme Court ruling — which could very well end up with people allowed to be armed at all times, everywhere they go, anywhere in America — the need for reform is even greater.
Who knows when we’ll get another chance to take even these basic steps. And, just maybe, this will open the door to further firearms regulation (a key concept in the 2nd Amendment that gun cultists like the NRA always seem to overlook) down the road.
Tell Congress:
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act represents commonsense gun safety measures that are supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people. It is long past time for Congress to take action that will save lives. Pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act without delay.
Add your name now.
Thank you for taking action.
For progress,
- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
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