The House of Representatives passed a comprehensive gun control bill on Wednesday in response to the recent shooting in Buffalo, NY, and Uvalde, TX. This would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and ban the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 15 rounds.
The House approved the legislation by a vote of 223-204. But, while Senate debates on mental health services, school security, and background checks, it means that this bill has virtually no chance of becoming law.
Democrats will be able to show voters in November where they stand on initiatives that are primarily supported under the terms of the House bill.
“While we may not be able to save everyone, shouldn’t we at least try? Today in Congress, we are responding to the demands of the people of the United States of America, “Democratic Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (Texas) agreed. “Take note of the people who are with you and those who aren’t,”
Miah Cerrillo, an 11-year-old girl, was one of the victims and family members who spoke to a House panel about their experiences in recent shootings. She covered herself in a deceased classmate’s blood to avoid being shot at the Uvalde elementary school.
Congress has rarely taken action in response to the seemingly endless string of mass shootings in the United States. As a result, the Uvalde shootings have reignited efforts in a way that all parties are talking about the need to respond.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, “It’s horrible, it’s sickening that our children have to live in this continual fear.”
Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared that the vote would “create history by making progress.” No telling what will happen to this legislation now that House Republicans have been so strident in their rejection.
Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan stated, “The answer is not to remove the Second Amendment, but that is precisely where the Democrats want to go.”
While the House and Senate are working to find common ground, a bill must have at least 10 Republican votes to be signed into law. For an hour on Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators from both parties met in private in the hopes of formulating a plan for compromise legislation before the end of the week. Participants stated that further discussions were needed on implementing an approach that is likely to take small stages.
The fact that five of the six leading Senate GOP negotiators are not up for re-election until 2026 is a measure of the electoral threat that measures to reduce gun ownership represent for Republicans. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are the five senators involved in the debate. Toomey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, is stepping down from the Senate in January. This year’s crop of Republican candidates is significant because none of them is running for president.
Even though Cornyn has acknowledged that the talks are serious, for him, reaching an agreement before the end of June congressional recess is “an aspirational aim.”
He has not joined the chorus of Democrats who have predicted that the outline of a deal might be struck by Friday.
Several Democratic ideas floated before the recent massacres in Buffalo and Uvalde have been incorporated into the House bill. Investigators said that Uvalde, elementary school, and Buffalo supermarket shooting suspects purchased semi-automatic firearms when they were just 18 years old.
The age at which a person can buy an assault weapon would be raised from 18 to 21 under the proposed legislation.
“A person under 21 cannot buy a Budweiser. We should not let a person under 21 buy an AR-15 weapon of war,” Stated California Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat.
According to a recent U.S. appeals court decision, the California law prohibiting the sale of semi-automatic firearms to adults under the age of 21 is illegal, which Republicans have pointed out in their arguments.
“This is unconstitutional, and it’s immoral. Why is it immoral? Because we’re urging people in their late teens and early twenties to register for the draft. You have the option of sacrificing your life for your country. Even while we expect you to defend us, we won’t provide you with the tools you need to defend yourself and your family. “says Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)
According to the House measure, a fine and up to five years in prison could be imposed if a gun is not properly stored. If a youngster uses it to damage or kills themselves or other individuals, which also includes incentives to encourage the adoption of safe gun storage devices.
“Bump-stock” devices and “ghost weapons” assembled without serial numbers were also banned by the Biden administration’s unilateral order.
This legislation would allow family members, police, and others to petition federal courts for the removal of firearms from those who are deemed at risk of killing themselves or others. The House is anticipated to adopt it on Thursday as well.
There are currently “red flag laws” in place in 19 states and the District of Columbia. A judge might issue an order to temporarily confiscate and keep firearms. Until a hearing can be held, no later than two weeks, to determine whether firearms should be restored or retained for an extended period under the House bill.
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