After weeks of negotiations, a group of 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans have come to an agreement about proposed modest gun control measures.
The proposed legislation does not include large reforms that are supported by most of the public, but there could be enough Republican votes to defeat a Senate filibuster. That would be a big achievement for a Senate that has not been able to pass any major gun control reforms in 30 years.
The public has been pushing the Congress to act due to the avalanche of recent school shootings, specifically the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas this year.
The plan includes increased background checks for gun buyers under 21. It also would address enforcement of gun-trafficking laws.
The negotiators discussed closing “the boyfriend loophole,” which allows some people to purchase guns even if they are known domestic abusers. At the present time, someone who has been married to, lived with or had a child with a partner they’ve been convicted of abusing are blocked from purchasing a weapon. The boyfriend loophole was previously removed from negotiations due to objections from the NRA.
Billions of dollars are proposed for mental health services, suicide prevention programs and safety in schools, including security training for school employees and students.
States will be rewarded for creating “red flag” laws, legislation that allows law enforcement to confiscate guns from people who are said to be a danger to themselves or to others.
Democrats are still hoping to increase the minimum age for purchasing semiautomatic rifles to 21, ban assault weapons, and expand background checks, legislation blocked by Republicans.
Left out of the plan are even more stringent background checks and a federal ban on assault weapons.
Democrats are hoping to push the legislation through before the Congress goes on break in July.
Most gun control advocates feel this is just a start and will not solve the gun violence crisis in the US.