Rep. Mike Levin Helps Pass Historic Bipartisan Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years. The bill will fund states’ red flag laws, close the boyfriend loophole to prevent domestic abusers from possessing guns, strengthen background checks for buyers under age 21, crack down on gun trafficking and straw purchasing, fund community-based violence intervention programs, invest in mental health services, and fund school safety efforts.
“The epidemic of gun violence has plagued our nation for generations, and for far too long Congress has failed to take any meaningful action. School children, churchgoers, shoppers, and Americans from every walk of life have been killed by gun violence that could have been prevented. Finally, Congress is making progress that will save lives, and this is due in large part to the tireless grassroots advocates who have been fighting for action for years. This includes funding red flag laws, closing the boyfriend loophole to stop convicted domestic abusers from buying or owning guns, strengthening background checks for purchasers under 21, and cracking down on gun traffickers and those who buy guns for someone else. While this progress is important, we absolutely must do more. The vast majority of Americans support House-passed legislation to implement universal background checks, outlaw high-capacity magazines, strengthen safe storage requirements, and more. To truly end the epidemic of gun violence in our country, the Senate must act on those measures as well.”
A fact sheet from Everytown for Gun Safety on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is available here.
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