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President Biden signed on Saturday the largest arms control bill in nearly 30 years in less than 24 hours after passing through Congress with extraordinary speed.
“Time is of the essence. Lives will be saved, “Biden told the nation. “From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Charleston, Orlando, Las Vegas, Parkland, El Paso, Atlanta, Buffalo, Uwalde and the shootings that happen every day on the streets. How many times have you heard that “just do something, for God’s sake, just do something”? “
“We did it today,” he added.
The House of Representatives passed the Two-Party Safer Communities Act Friday with 234-193 votes, with 14 Republicans crossing party lines just one day after the Senate passed legislation with 65-33 votes Thursday night.
The new law is an attempt to circumvent the mass shootings that have plagued the United States for years.
President Biden signs Act S. 2938, the bipartisan law on safe communities for gun safety, in Roosevelt’s room at the White House in Washington on Saturday, June 25, 2022. First Lady Jill Biden looks to the right. (AP Photo / Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
HOUSE MISSES LAW ON CONTROL OF WEAPONS OF THE SERIES OF MASS SHOTING
Two mass shootings that took place within a week of each other in Buffalo, New York and Uwalde, Texas, left dozens dead last month.
The Senate then began talks between 10 Republicans in the Senate and 10 Democrats in the Senate to adopt gun control reform and tackle gun violence in the United States
Although the push was largely opposed by Republicans in the House, including minority leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell backed the legislation and said it would “help make these horrific incidents less likely while the rights of the Second Amendment to comply with the law are maintained. “
The latest law will encourage states to pass red flag laws and expand past checks for 18- to 21-year-olds.
THE SENATE ADOPTS A TWO-PARTY WEAPON CONTROL BILL
The shooting in Uwalde, which killed 19 children between the ages of 9 and 11 along with two teachers, and the shooting in Buffalo, believed to be a hate crime attack that left 10 dead and three wounded, were carried out by 18- year old men.
Lawmakers have encouraged states to release previously sealed records for minors, which could potentially add a few days to the waiting period before the purchase of a weapon is completed.
But even with the new gun control measures, it remains unclear whether the two most recent mass shootings could have been prevented by the latest regulations.
Both 18-year-old men legally purchased AR-15-style rifles, and neither was marked by existing red flag laws.
Wooden crosses were placed at a memorial dedicated to the victims of the mass shooting at Rob Elementary School on June 3, 2022 in Uwalde, Texas. 19 students and two teachers were killed on May 24 after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire on a school. Awakenings and funerals for the 21 victims are scheduled throughout the week. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)
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The latest provision calling for states to publish juvenile files may have helped mark Peyton Hendron, the Buffalo shooter, who was assessed for mental health problems in 2021 but avoided any red flags.
The bill also provides funding for mental health programs for young people.
“This bill does not do everything I want. It includes actions that I have long called for that will save lives, “Biden said. “I know there is still a lot of work to be done. And I will never give up.
“But this is a monumental day,” he added.
Caitlin McFaul is a reporter for Fox News Digital. You can contact her at caitlin.mcfall@fox.com or @ctlnmcfall on Twitter.
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