US gun law ‘most significant’ in 30 years

The US Congress has passed a gun control bill that is the most significant firearms legislation in nearly 30 years, according to the BBC.

The bill is regarded as significant because it is the first time in decades that proposed reforms have gained decisive levels of support from both Democrats and Republicans. Historically, efforts to strengthen US gun laws have been blocked by the Republicans.

The new law imposes tougher checks on young buyers and encourages states to remove guns from people who are considered a threat.

Fourteen Republicans joined Democrats in the House to approve the bill by 234 to 193 votes.

The bill is now headed to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

The measure also passed in the Senate, with 15 Republican Senators voting alongside their Democratic colleagues, delivering a 65-33 vote in its favour.

Biden said: ‘After 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to heed the call of families across the country and passed legislation to address the scourge of gun violence in our communities.’

The measure comes in the wake of mass shootings last month at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and a primary school in Uvalde, Texas, that left 31 people dead.

The reforms include:

• Tougher background checks for buyers younger than 21;
• $15bn in federal funding for mental health programmes and school security upgrades;
• Funding to encourage states to implement ‘red flag’ laws to remove firearms from people considered a threat; and
• Closing the so-called ‘boyfriend loophole’ by blocking gun sales to those convicted of abusing unmarried intimate partners.

The BBC reports that Biden has pushed for bigger reforms – including a ban on assault weapons, which were used in the Texas and Buffalo mass shootings – or at least an increase in the age at which they can be purchased. The gunman in the Texas shooting is believed to have purchased two semi-automatic rifles days after turning 18.

[Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/pistol-weapon-goal-crime-fight-2948729/]