U.S. President Joe Biden has signed the broadest armed violence bill in decades, a bipartisan compromise that seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings.
Key points:
- Biden signed the bill just before leaving Washington for G7 and NATO summits in Europe
- The legislation tightens background checks for potential young gun buyers and restricts ownership of perpetrators of domestic violence.
- The US president said he was acting on the wishes of the families of the victims of the recent UValde massacre.
The shootings include the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school, which took place exactly one month ago.
“Lives will be saved,” Biden 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, we did it today.”
The House gave final approval on Friday, following Senate approval Thursday, and Biden acted just before leaving Washington for two summits in Europe.
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.
Most of its $ 13 billion ($ 18 billion) cost will help strengthen mental health programs and support 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 was accompanied by his wife, Jill, a teacher, for the signing.
He said they will host an event on July 11 for politicians and families affected by armed violence.
Biden signed the measure two days after the Supreme Court ruling overturned a New York law Thursday that limited people’s ability to carry concealed weapons.
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 an expired law. ban on assault weapons 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’s major economic powers (G7) – the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – in Germany. He will later travel to Spain for a NATO meeting.
AP
Posted 1 hour ago 1 hour Sat. June 25, 2022 at 1:50 PM, updated 1 hour ago 1 hour agoDiss. June 25, 2022 at 2:10 p.m.