The United States Senate passed a first procedural vote 64-34 in favor of advancing a bipartisan gun safety bill. The “motion to proceed to the consideration of the House Message with respect to S.2938, the Guns and Mental Health Bill” was passed on Tuesday.
The Senate will need to take a second procedural vote to wrap up the debate, expected to take place Thursday. If it receives 60 or more votes, the filibuster will break and the Senate can vote on the bill’s final passage.
It will then be sent to the House to be voted on for its final vote. 14 Republican Senators voted in favor of the legislation. The bill is named the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York tweeted at 8:41 PM on Tuesday, “Tonight the Senate took the first steps to move life-saving gun safety legislation in the Senate and we will move too final passage as soon as possible. We’re moving quickly to pass the bill in the Senate by the week’s end.”
CNN reports that “earlier this month, a bipartisan group of senators had released an agreement in principle for a deal on bipartisan gun legislation, which notably had the backing of 10 Republican senators.”
At least 10 Republican senators will need to join Democrats in supporting the bill for it to overcome a filibuster and pass in the Senate on Thursday.
Here’s an analysis and breakdown of what is in the bill:
$750 million to help states implement and run crisis intervention programs
This money can be used to implement and manage red flag programs, which are aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. It also can be used for other crisis intervention programs like mental health courts, drug courts and veteran courts.
Whether the money could be used for things other than red flag laws was a primary sticking point at the end of the negotiations, and Republicans were able to secure money for states that don’t have red flag laws but have other crisis intervention programs.
Closing the so-called boyfriend loophole
This legislation closes a years-old loophole in domestic violence law that barred individuals who had been convicted of domestic violence crimes against spouses, or partners with whom they shared children or cohabitated with, from having guns. Old statutes didn’t include intimate partners who may not live together, be married or share children. The new bill would bar anyone who is convicted of a domestic violence crime against someone they have a “continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature” from having a gun. The provision isn’t retroactive.
The bill, however, would allow those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes to restore their gun rights after five years if they haven’t committed other crimes.
Requires more gun sellers to register as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers
The bill goes after individuals who sell guns as primary sources of income but have previously evaded registering as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers. This is significant because federally licensed dealers are required to administer background checks before they sell a gun to someone.
More thorough reviews of people ages 18-21 who want to buy guns
The bill encourages states to include juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check system with grants, as well as implement a new protocol for checking those records. It gives NICS three days to review an individual’s record. If something potentially disqualifying comes up, NICS gets an additional seven days. If the review is not completed by then, the gun transfer goes through.
Creates new federal statutes against gun trafficking and straw trafficking
The legislation makes it easier to go after those who are buying guns for individuals who are not allowed to purchase weapons on their own.
Increases funding for mental health programs and school security
This money is directed to a series of programs, many of which already exist but would be funded more robustly under the new law.
Once this passes, we are well on our way to having at least something resembling common-sense gun laws in this country. It’s not the best legislation, but it’s a good start 🙂
Next, require thorough background checks, registration of every gun in the country, a liability insurance policy for every gun, and mandatory safety training classes. Re-registration and subsequent background checks every 2-4 years. Finally, a gun buy-back program for those that want to safely remove weapons from their households. NONE of this violates the 2nd amendment or the right to own a gun.