On Friday, new reporting by The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the landmark federal gun safety legislation passed last June, is already making an impact by stopping illegal gun sales. The article revealed that at least 27 people between 18 and 21 had been prevented from buying firearms after the enhanced background check system established by the legislation found prohibiting factors.
More from The Wall Street Journal:
The landmark gun bill, in effect since it was signed by President Biden in June, requires juvenile records, including those related to mental health, to be assessed in criminal background checks for prospective gun buyers under the age of 21. The measure has kept at least 27 young people from buying firearms, the lawmakers said, citing numbers and cases provided to them this week by the FBI.
Those barred from gun purchases under the new provisions included an 18-year-old in Nebraska who had been institutionalized for what local law enforcement described as “mental illness and violent outbursts”; another in Arizona who had a long juvenile criminal history including aggravated drug trafficking and threatening with a dangerous weapon; and another who had been arrested months earlier by police, who found marijuana and an unpermitted handgun in his car.
Everytown advised in the drafting of the bill, and since its passage, Everytown has been a leader in ensuring the full implementation and strong enforcement of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. In July, Everytown released comprehensive guidance for state and local leaders to make use of the historic policies included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This guidance includes actions governors, state legislatures, and local leaders can take right now to prepare for and effectively utilize every part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Additionally, in August, Everytown called on the Biden-Harris Administration to fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act with regulatory action that cracks down on no-background-check sales by clarifying the definition of a gun seller who is “engaged in the business.” Everytown continues to work with cities, states, and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure this historic law is effectively implemented to save as many lives as possible.
