After two shootings with firearms shocked the US, the US Senate approved on Thursday night (23) a bipartisan package of measures to combat gun violence. The bill, introduced by Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday, includes expanded background checks on buyers and more federal funding for mental health programs.
The proposals are part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act project (bipartisan law for safer communities), which now must be signed by President Joe Biden – the Democrat is in favor of stricter measures to control access to guns.
The package passed the Senate by 65 votes to 33, with the support of 15 Republicans. For a project to be approved, a majority of 60 votes is required, and a rule known as “filibuster” allows texts that do not reach that number to be barred.
This is the biggest advance in gun control by federal law since the 1990s, when a broad restriction on assault weapons, capable of firing more shots in less time, was adopted. The measure, however, expired in 2004 and was not renewed.
The bill came after two gun massacres shocked the country and fueled the debate for greater control over access to weapons. On May 14, an 18-year-old man killed ten black people at a supermarket in the city of Buffalo, New York. Ten days later, another 18-year-old man killed 19 children and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas.
The proposal will not need to be approved in the House, because the Senate used a procedure called a “shell bill”, in which the content of the new bill is included in a rule already approved by the deputies and which was awaiting the approval of the senators.
MAJOR GUN LAWS IN THE USA
1791
2nd Constitutional Amendment
It says: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary for the security of a free state, the right to keep and bear arms must not be infringed.”
1934
National Firearms Act (National Firearms Act)
First federal law to regulate and tax the manufacture and sale of larger-caliber weapons. Pistols were left out of the rules.
1938
Federal Firearms Act (Federal Firearms Act)
It demanded that manufacturers, importers and sellers of weapons have a license to act and prevented the sale of weapons to ex-convicts by Justice, among other categories.
1968
Gun Control Act (Gun Control Act)
It expanded the list of purchase restrictions, mandated that guns have a registration number and vetoed importation, except for sporting purposes — but without defining what “sporting purposes” would be.
1986
Firearms Owners’ Protection Act (Law to protect gun owners)
It lifted several restrictions on buying, legalized the sale at gun fairs and relaxed requirements for dealers to keep records on products sold.
1993
Brady Act (Brady Law)
It set a five-day lead-time between purchase and delivery to allow more time for customer background checks. In the following years, the standard was relaxed and, nowadays, a quick assessment is allowed in many cases.
1994
Federal Assault Weapons Ban (Federal veto on assault weapons)
It banned the manufacture, sale and possession of semi-automatic and higher firepower weapons. The measure expired in 2004 and was not renewed.
2005
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (Protection of the legal arms trade)
It banned manufacturers and sellers from being prosecuted if their products are used in crimes and began to require weapons to be transported and kept safely.
2007
NCIS Improvement Amendments Act (Improvement Law on the National Criminal Information Checking System)
It provided financial incentives for states to improve the databases to be consulted by sellers before handing over weapons to buyers.
