A bipartisan group of senators — 10 Republicans, 10 Democrats — released the framework for potential new gun control legislation on Sunday:
Framework includes:
-funding for mental-health programs
-school security money
-incentives for states to implement and maintain red-flag laws
– include juvenile records in background checks for people buying guns under 21 https://t.co/gduCYL2ejI— Eliza Collins (@elizacollins1) June 12, 2022
What’s not in the framework (and eventual legislation) is important, too:
What's NOT in the Senate gun deal
—No ban on semi-automatic weapons
—No ban on high-capacity magazines
—No 21 minimum age to buy AR-15-style rifles
—No universal background checkshttps://t.co/9FapV90yHb— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 12, 2022
The section on red flag laws means federal funding to states, not any red flag law at the federal level:
Recommended
Correct. https://t.co/NNiG0A075n
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) June 12, 2022
Sen. Chris Murphy called the framework “real meaningful progress”:
🚨NEWS: We have a deal. Today a bipartisan group of 20 Senators (10 D and 10 R) is announcing a breakthrough agreement on gun violence – the first in 30 years – that will save lives.
I think you’ll be surprised at the scope of our framework.
1/ Here’s what it includes:
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
2/ Major funding to help states pass and implement crisis intervention orders (red flag laws) that will allow law enforcement to temporarily take dangerous weapons away from people who pose a danger to others or themselves.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
3/ Billions in new funding for mental health and school safety, including money for the national build out of community mental health clinics.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
4/ Close the “boyfriend loophole”, so that no domestic abuser – a spouse OR a serious dating partner – can buy a gun if they are convicted of abuse against their partner.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
5/ First ever federal law against gun trafficking and straw purchasing. This will be a difference making tool to stop the flow of illegal guns into cities.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
6/ Enhanced background check for under 21 gun buyers and a short pause to conduct the check. Young buyers can get the gun only after the enhanced check is completed.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
7/ Clarification of the laws regarding who needs to register as a licensed gun dealer, to make sure all truly commercial sellers are doing background checks.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
8/ Will this bill do everything we need to end our nation’s gun violence epidemic? No. But it’s real, meaningful progress. And it breaks a 30 year log jam, demonstrating that Democrats and Republicans can work together in a way that truly saves lives.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
9/ So grateful to @JohnCornyn @kyrstensinema @SenThomTillis @SenToomey @Sen_JoeManchin @SenBlumenthal @SenatorCollins @LindseyGrahamSC @ChrisCoons @TeamHeinrich @BillCassidy and others for their amazing work to get us this far.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
10/ Drafting this law and passing it through both chambers will not be easy. We have a long way before this gets to the President’s desk. But with your help and activism, we can get this done. This time, failure cannot be an option.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 12, 2022
a
A GOP aide involved in the negotiations stressed: it's "agreement on principles, not legislative text" and that some of these principles could be dropped if there's no agreement on text
— Marianne LeVine (@marianne_levine) June 12, 2022
And here are the 10 Republicans who endorse this “real meaningful progress”: “Romney, Cornyn, Tillis, Blunt, Burr, Cassidy, Collins, Graham, Portman, Toomey”:
Perhaps the biggest surprise here is that the framework already has 10 Repubs signed on:
Romney, Cornyn, Tillis, Blunt, Burr, Cassidy, Collins, Graham, Portman, Toomey
Some of them had not been closely involved with the talks and it wasn’t known they’d sign on from the get-go pic.twitter.com/dbfIXx2ipr
— Gabe Fleisher (@WakeUp2Politics) June 12, 2022
It sounds like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is on board, too:
McConnell announce that he backs bipartisan group in their efforts after group announces framework. pic.twitter.com/dUBVVvhCzF
— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) June 12, 2022
Here’s the full text of the framework:
Bipartisan Group of Senators Announce Agreement
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC),
Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME). Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (1-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Rob Portman (R-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-M), and Pat Toomey (R-PA) issued the following statement:“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country. Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities. Our plan increases needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can’t purchase weapons. Most importantly, our plan saves lives while also protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. We look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our commonsense proposal into law.”
The proposal includes:
Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders
- Provides resources to states and tribes to create and administer laws that help ensure deadly weapons are kept out
of the hands of individuals whom a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others,
consistent with state and federal due process and constitutional protections.Investment in Children and Family Mental Health Services
- National expansion of community behavioral health center model; major investments to increase access to mental
health and suicide prevention programs; and other support services available in the community, including crisis and
trauma intervention and recovery.Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
- Convicted domestic violence abusers and individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders are included in
NICS, including those who have or have had a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.Funding for School-Based Mental Health and Supportive Services
- Invests in programs to expand mental health and supportive services in schools, including: early identification and
intervention programs and school based mental health and wrap-around services.Funding for School Safety Resources
- Invests in programs to help institute safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools, support school
violence prevention efforts and provide training to school personnel and students.Clarification of Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer
- Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements.
Telehealth Investments
- Invests in programs that increase access to mental and behavioral health services for youth and families in crisis via
telehealth.Under 21 Enhanced Review Process
- For buyers under 21 years of age, requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records,
including checks with state databases and local law enforcement.Penalties for Straw Purchasing
- Cracks down on criminals who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns.