FOR years, Americans have been calling upon members of Congress to implement new gun control laws following countless deadly mass shootings.
In June 2022, members of the Senate reached an agreement and announced new framework for gun control.
What is Senate's gun reform deal?
On June 12, 2022, a bipartisan group of senators reached an agreement on new gun safety legislation.
The breakthrough proposal includes the encouragement of "red flag" laws as well as the enhancement of background checks on gun buyers.
“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country," the group said in a statement, via NBC News.
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"Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities."
Sen. Chris Murphy and Sen. John Cornyn add that the new measures "won’t affect the gun rights of law-abiding Americans," according to NBC News.
“Our plan increases needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can’t purchase weapons,” the statement continues.
“Most importantly, our plan saves lives while also protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. We look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our commonsense proposal into law.”
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The new legislation comes amid several mass shootings in 2022 alone, including the school shooting at Robb Elementary that took the lives of 19 students and two teachers, as well as the deadly Tops Supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York, that took the lives of 10 people.
At the time of this writing, the final bill has not been written.
What are "red flag" laws?
Red flag laws have been a controversial topic over the years, with many arguing that they are a violation of the second amendment.
Essentially, red flag laws allow police, family members, coworkers, and others to petition a state court to keep firearms away from people deemed a risk to themselves or others.
Currently, 19 states and Washington D.C. have red flag laws on the books, and this new deal will provide other states with more resources to implement them.
NBC News notes that the new agreement will also create a more rigorous process for background checks on people between 18 and 21 years old.
What did President Joe Biden say about the Senate's gun reform deal?
The Senate's new proposal comes just one day after thousands of Americans protested across the country in favor of stricter gun laws.
Since the deal was announced, it has received support from many, including President Joe Biden.
"I want to thank Senator Chris Murphy and the bipartisan group for their gun safety proposal. It does not do everything that I think is needed, but it reflects important steps in the right direction," Biden wrote in a tweet.
"With bipartisan support, there are no excuses for delay. Let’s get this done."
Biden is a known advocate for gun control and has previously called upon members of Congress to act on gun reform.
The day prior, Biden also showed his support for the March for Our Lives movement, which began in 2018 following the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
"Today, young people around the country once again march with @AMarch4OurLives to call on Congress to pass commonsense gun safety legislation supported by the majority of Americans and gun owners," he said at the time.
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"I join them by repeating my call to Congress: do something."
Vice President Kamala Harris also showed her support for the new deal, writing: "This gun safety proposal is an important step toward saving lives. While it does not reflect everything we need to do, I applaud Senator Chris Murphy and the bipartisan group of leaders who came together to put this forward. Enough is enough."
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