President Biden signed the bipartisan gun safety bill into law on Saturday, saying that “time is of the essence” and that the legislation will “save lives.”
“While this bill does not do everything I want, it does include actions I have long advocated for,” Biden said, calling it a “historic day” in light of the fact that no significant federal gun legislation has been passed in nearly 30 years.
Jill Biden, the president’s wife, was present at the brief signing ceremony. He stated that the White House will hold a larger ceremony on July 11 to commemorate the occasion.
In a rare instance, senators from both parties responded to a spate of mass shootings with legislation on Thursday when the Senate enacted a compromise gun safety package by a vote of 65-33.
However, the bill is still short of the demands of many gun control activists, who want to outlaw assault weapons and limit the purchase of firearms to people under the age of 21. According to recent polls, these plans are widely supported by the public; yet, as a bipartisan group of senators worked out a compromise, they were dead on arrival.
Friday, 10:35 a.m. PT: The House passed a bipartisan compromise gun safety bill, and it now goes to Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. The final vote was 234-193, and lawmakers applauded as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the result. The bill was passed with the help of 14 Republicans and Democrats.
In response to recent mass shootings in Uvalde, TX and Buffalo, NY, the legislation would expand background checks for those aged 18 to 21, provide incentives for states to pass “red flag” laws, and expand a federal law that prohibits domestic abusers from obtaining guns. The bill also includes funds for school safety and mental health.
However, the bill stops short of outright banning the sale of assault weapons to anybody under the age of 18. Republican leaders in the House even lobbied their members to vote against the compromise legislation, which demonstrated the party’s intractability on the subject.
By a vote of 65-33, the Senate approved the measure late on Thursday. Given that no meaningful federal gun regulation had been achieved in nearly 30 years, congressional leaders hailed the legislation as a victory.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act would expand background checks for those aged 18 to 21, provide incentives for states to pass “red flag” laws, and expand a federal law that prohibits domestic abusers from obtaining firearms. The bill also includes funds for school safety and mental health.
“Families in Uvalde and Buffalo — and too many tragic shootings before — have demanded action,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. And we acted tonight.” He stated that the bill “will help protect Americans.” As a result, children in schools and communities will be safer.”
