A Bipartisan Gun Reform Package? Here’s What Legislators Will Vote On

A Bipartisan Gun Reform Package? Here's What Legislators Will Vote On

Here’s What The New “Bipartisan” Gun Control Plan Will Lead To

(UnitedReader.com) – A mix of 20 Republicans and Democrats came together on June 12 to solidify what just might be the most bipartisan gun reform package in decades. Senators spearheading the project say that, while it would enact sweeping changes across the nation, the proposal also strives to preserve constitutional rights. Here’s what we know about this new reform package — and what Congress will actually be voting on.

Key Issues Targeted

A group of statements collectively published by Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), and a long list of other bipartisan collaborators details the pending senate deal. The legislation, if passed, will apparently address a number of key problem areas without interfering with Second Amendment rights.

  • State crisis intervention order resources. Senators want to significantly bolster crisis intervention order programs on the state level, making it easier to take firearms away from individuals deemed dangerous by a court of law.
  • Funding for child and family mental health programs. The Senate deal also significantly boosts funding for nationwide mental health services. Money will more specifically be allocated to community behavioral health center services, including suicide, crisis, and trauma intervention.
  • Additional protections for domestic violence victims. If passed, the legislation will require the perpetrators of domestic violence to register on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The new rule will apply to convicted criminals and any person who becomes the subject of a restraining order.
  • Funding for support services in schools. New legislation and funding seek to improve school safety by bolstering intervention and mental health services in schools.
  • Illegal gun trade crackdowns that also limit straw purchasing opportunities. The new agreement clarifies the legal definition of a “federally licensed firearms dealer.” It also puts into place new punishments for straw purchasers and gun traffickers.
  • Heightened investing strategies to bolster telehealth services. The deal sets aside more funding for mental and behavioral telehealth services. The goal is to make it easier for youth and families to address crises from virtually anywhere.
  • Revised purchasing requirements for buyers under 21. Anyone who attempts to buy a firearm before turning 21 will be subjected to an intensified investigative process. Program administrators will check mental health, criminal, and juvenile records for red-flag concerns in an attempt to predict future misuse.

Bipartisan, Yet Controversial

The new agreement has thus far enjoyed a surprising amount of bipartisan support from participating leaders and those not directly involved with the measure. President Joe Biden praised collaborators in a statement claiming it would “save lives.”

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the gun reform package isn’t controversial. Second Amendment rights activists have expressed concern over how such guidelines could be misinterpreted and misused. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX) blasted the deal on Twitter, calling it a “massive violation.”

Even gun control advocates aren’t necessarily convinced. Rather than worrying about any potential infringement on rights, they fear the legislation doesn’t go far enough. One man told NBC News the package felt “very, very inadequate.” Others lament the fact that the new deal fails to place limitations on the sale or purchase of high-capacity magazines.

Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) told NBC news anchors that he expects the bipartisan deal to pass in a matter of weeks rather than months. However, participating leaders have yet to fully flesh out the bill’s actual text. Heinrich did confirm that Republicans and Democrats have already negotiated past bills from both sides of the aisle, which should help speed the process.

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