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By Jennie L. Ilustre
A bipartisan gun safety bill that will save lives will soon become part of the nation’s laws. This is good news for the country, including the Asian American community, which has seen racism alarmingly escalate during the pandemic.
The 100-member Senate recently passed the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” by a 65 to 33 vote. A total of 15 Republicans joined all 50 Democrats to cast the historic vote on June 23. The Democratic-dominated House passed the bill the day after.
President Biden, who has linked anti-Asian racism and a spate of tragic mass shootings with gun violence, will sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches his desk.
It “will save thousands of lives,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY) previously said about the legislation. After the vote, Schumer remarked on the historic vote: “The first major gun safety bill in nearly 30 years. I want to thank all my Democratic and Republican colleagues for working together to reach this point.”
Senator John Cornyn (R, Texas) said he didn’t believe in doing nothing after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. “Doing nothing is an abdication of our responsibility,” he stressed.
Stop AAPI Hate coalition co-founders, anticipating the news, emailed the following statement: “The tragedy and violence that has devastated Asian American and Pacific Islander communities must come to an end. Gun violence is a public health crisis–one that demands swift and meaningful action from our elected officials.
“We stand united with all members of AAPI communities and other communities of color who have been targeted in racially-motivated attacks, and with all who have been impacted by the horrific series of mass shootings across our nation these last few months.”
Bill’s Provisions
The bill is a compromise, and does not fully address the gun safety issue, but it is a good start. It provides $750 million to help states implement mental health, school safety, and crisis prevention programs, according to CNN.
It bars individuals who were convicted of domestic violence crimes against married partners, or partners with whom they shared children or partners with whom they cohabitated, from having guns, thus closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole,” but only for five years (“sunset” period).
NBC reported it would enhance background checks for those who are 18 to 21 years old purchasing a firearm, opening access to juvenile records. The bill would also clarify which sellers are required to register as firearm licensees, and would toughen laws against gun trafficking.
Bipartisan group
A group of Democratic and Republican senators negotiated the bill’s framework, overcoming hurdles. After nearly 30 years, lawmakers passed legislation addressing one of the country’s divisive issues.
“The communities across our country who have experienced senseless violence deserve better than Washington politics as usual,” Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D, Arizona) pointed out, CNN reported. She was among the prime movers of the bill.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, Kentucky) noted: “Yesterday, the Senate took a big step toward an important bipartisan bill to prevent mass murders, make schools safer, and protect the second amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The bipartisan group led by Senator Cornyn put together a package of commonsense and popular solutions to make these horrific incidents less likely.”
AAPI group Denounces SC Ruling
On the same day the Senate passed the gun safety bill, however, the Supreme Court struck down a major piece of gun safety legislation in New York.
“This devastating decision in the Bruen case from an activist Conservative court will increase the risk of gun violence throughout New York and the rest of the country by making it easier to carry a gun,” AAPI Victory Alliance lamented.
Remarked AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore: “While Americans continue to reel from seemingly endless acts of gun violence, the Supreme Court made an alarming and potentially fatal decision that will only increase the likelihood of gun violence. Gun violence and loss of life as a result of gun violence is unequivocally preventable.”
He denounced the current composition of the Supreme Court, and called for its expansion.
The nation has been reeling from senseless violence in recent years. Most of the victims were engaged in what are previously ordinary activities–such as attending school, shopping, or in the case of Asian Americans, walking on the sidewalk or riding in the subway.
The mass shootings in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas–where 19 children and two teachers died–and at a New York supermarket, served as a catalyst for the historic legislation.
