In response to a recent wave of mass shootings, the House of Representatives passed a bill raising the age of purchase of semi-automatic rifles to 21, requiring the safe storage of firearms while seeking to combat illicit trafficking in firearms.
The chamber passed the Law for the Protection of Our Children by a vote of 223-204 on Wednesday, which fell mostly along party lines. Democrats in Congress, who quickly assembled the package earlier this month, say it will reduce gun violence. Five Republicans have come out in support of legislation that will be the most important gun control measure passed by Congress in nearly two decades. However, he faces uncertainty in the Senate.
Speaking in the hall, spokesman Jerry Nadler mentioned the recent shooting at a primary school in Uwalde, Texas, which killed 19 children and two teachers.
“Who will be able to tell their constituents that they are standing with them and not with the arms lobby?” Nadler said. “Americans are watching. They are asking us to protect them and their loved ones from gun violence. Which of us will respond to their call?”
Today, the House of Representatives passed gun laws with the help of several key Republicans. Above, a plaque calling for a ban on assault weapons during the Moms Demand Action Gun Violence Rally in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2022. Nathan Howard / Getty Images
The House Judicial Commission, chaired by Nadler, earlier this month passed legislation in an extraordinary session, with 25 to 19 parties voting.
Legislation creates new federal crimes for the sale or production of high-capacity magazines and the use of “straw” buyers for arms trafficking. The law will ban so-called “butts”, devices used for rapid sequential firing of semi-automatic rifles. Also banned will be “ghost weapons”, firearms assembled at home, which law enforcement agencies have difficulty tracking.
Although the bill stops banning semi-automatic rifles called by gun control advocates, it raises the purchase age to 21 years. Supporters of the provision cite that gunmen in the recent mass shootings were under the age of 21. The bill also creates penalties for gun owners who do not use proper storage or safety devices to keep firearms out of the hands of minors.
During the debate in the hall, the Republicans in the House of Representatives condemned the bill, calling it inoperable, unconstitutional.
“This could turn millions of illegal weapons into smuggling and law-abiding gun owners into criminals,” Minnesota spokeswoman Michelle Fishbach said on the floor. “[The bill] is another reminder that Democrats do not respect the rights of the Second Amendment in principle. “
Fishbach said safe storage requirements violated the protection of the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures. Tracking requirements would also mean that multiple parts of the same weapon would need their own serial number.
Saying “it’s not guns, it’s people”, Florida spokesman Kat Kamak said the bill did nothing to tackle the country’s mental health crisis and could leave victims of domestic violence defenseless.
Legislation faces difficulties in the evenly divided Senate, where Republicans have signaled some desire to address the issue.
Texas Sen. John Cornin, a Republican negotiator on arms control in the Senate, released a video of a speech on Wednesday about the state of the talks, which includes few details. He identified mental health as a major factor behind mass shootings and security assessments in schools.
Although he expressed optimism that the negotiations would lead to a bill, he rejected the “artificial deadlines” for voting on any legislation.
Newsweek asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for comment.
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