Biden Gun Safety Bill Stopped 500 Illegal Gun Purchases
Washington DC — Today GIFFORDS, the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a statement on the success of 2022’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) following an announcement from the White House indicating that “the Justice Department has now successfully denied more than 500 illegal gun purchases by people under 21 years old who presented a danger to our communities.”
GIFFORDS Federal Affairs Director, Adzi Vokhiwa:
“Today’s announcement is proof that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is keeping guns from those most at risk of harming themselves or others. President Biden has done more to protect American families from gun crime than any president in generations.
“At the same time, yesterday’s heartbreaking tragedy in Perry, Iowa, underscores how much work remains to be done. We must build on our successes and fiercely resist gun industry efforts to flood our communities with deadly weapons. Leaders in Congress and state legislatures must follow the Biden administration’s lead and stand up to the gun lobby’s dangerous agenda.”
Under the BSCA, prospective gun buyers under the age of 21 must undergo an enhanced background check which includes the review of juvenile records and consultation with local law enforcement, and the law provides up to 10 days for this comprehensive review. While 18 to 20-year-olds make up approximately five percent of the US population, they are responsible for nearly 17% of the nation’s gun homicides. In June 2023, one year after the BSCA was signed into law, GIFFORDS released a comprehensive analysis of the legislation’s implementation along with recommendations for the path forward.
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