President Joe Biden signed on Saturday the largest bill on gun violence in decades, a two-party compromise that seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school.
“Lives will be saved,” he told the White House. Referring to the families of the victims of the shooting, the president said: “Their message to us was to do something. Well, we did it today. “
The House of Representatives gave its final approval on Friday, following the Senate’s adoption on Thursday, and Biden acted just before leaving Washington for two summits in Europe.
Read more: US Congress sends Biden’s first major gun violence bill in decades
1:46 U.S. Violence Violence Act to Become Law After House of Representatives with Bipartisan Support Adopted The U.S. Violence with Arms Bill will become law after the House of Representatives is passed with bipartisan support
The legislation will tighten checks on the youngest gun buyers, protect firearms from more perpetrators of domestic violence, and help states introduce red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people who are recognized as dangerous.
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Most of its $ 13 billion cost will help strengthen mental health programs and relief schools that have been targeted in Newtown, Connecticut and Parkland, Florida, and elsewhere in mass shootings.
Biden said the compromise reached by a bipartisan group of senators “does not do everything I want”, but “it includes actions I have long called for that will save lives.”
“I know there is still a lot of work to be done and I will never give up, but this is a monumental day,” said the president, who was joined by his wife, Jill, a teacher, for the signing.
1:46 US Senate passes gun violence bill, likely to be passed by House of Representatives US Senate passes gun violence bill, likely to be passed by House of Representatives
He said he would host an event on July 11 for lawmakers and families affected by gun violence.
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Biden signed the measure two days after the Supreme Court ruling Thursday repealed a law in New York that restricts people from carrying concealed weapons.
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Read more: US Senate passes most significant arms bill in decades after mass shootings
Although the new law does not include stricter long-held restrictions by Democrats, such as a ban on assault weapons and checks on all arms deals, it is the most influential measure of violence with firearms produced by Congress since the introduction of long-term expired weapon of attack. ban in 1993
Enough Republicans in Congress have joined Democrats in support of the aftermath of the recent riots in Buffalo, New York and Uwalde, Texas. It took weeks of closed-door talks, but the senators compromised.
Biden signed the bill just before leaving Washington for a summit of the Group of Seven Leading Economic Powers _ the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan _ in Germany. He will later travel to Spain for a NATO meeting.
2:02 Thousands march in the United States to demand changes in gun laws Thousands march in the United States to demand changes in gun laws – June 11, 2022
Highlights of bipartisan gun violence bill signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday
Advanced background checks
State and local files on minors and the mental health of gun buyers will be part of federal inspections of buyers between the ages of 18 and 20. The three-day maximum for collecting records will be extended to 10 days for searching for data on minors. If 10 days pass without a decision, the sale will pass.
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“Boyfriend door”
Convicted perpetrators of domestic violence will be denied a weapon if they have a current or past “continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature” with the victim. The right of perpetrators to buy firearms will be restored in five years, unless additional violent crimes are committed. Firearms are currently given up to domestic abusers if they are married, living with or having a child victim.
Red flag laws
Federal aid will be provided to the 19 states, as well as to the District of Columbia, which have laws that help authorities obtain court orders for the temporary removal of weapons from people considered dangerous. These countries will need strong processes to challenge the taking of firearms. Other countries could use the money for crisis intervention programs.
Mental health
The bill will expand community behavioral health clinics, help states strengthen mental health programs in schools, and provide more mental health counseling at a distance.
Education
The bill will increase spending on mental health at school, crisis intervention, violence prevention programs, training of mental health and safety workers at school.
Federal licensed arms dealers
The current law requires that people who “do business” in arms sales be licensed, which means they have to carry out inspections. The bill defines this as the sale of firearms “primarily for profit” in an attempt to prosecute people who evade the requirement.
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Weapons traffickers
The bill would create federal crimes for arms traffickers and “straw buyers” who buy weapons for people who would not pass inspections. The sentences are up to 25 years in prison. Such violators are now prosecuted mainly for breaches of documentation.
Price
The non-partisan budget service of Congress estimates the bill at $ 13 billion, mostly for mental health and schools. This is more than paid for by further delaying a 2020 regulation that never came into force requiring drug manufacturers to give discounts to Medicare recipients. This regulation would increase the costs of federal Medicare.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
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