Sarbanes Votes for Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislation

Press Release

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today released the following statement as the House passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938), legislation that will take meaningful action to stem the tide of gun violence in this country:

"With passage of this legislation today, Congress has chosen actions -- not words -- to address the gun violence crisis for the first time in decades," said Congressman Sarbanes. "The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act takes crucial steps to protect our communities and reduce the incidence of gun violence tragedies. This bill represents a historic step of breaking free from the powerful grasp of special interests that have stymied progress on this issue for far too long."

He continued, "I voted for this legislation to expand background checks for Americans ages 18-21, close the boyfriend loophole, crack down on gun trafficking and prevent guns from falling into the hands of those who wish to do harm. These reforms will not end the scourge of gun violence, but they will make a meaningful difference. I will continue fighting for common sense measures to save lives and keep all our communities safe."

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act would:

Strengthen background checks for buyers under the age of 21
Crack down on gun trafficking and the use of "straw purchasers"
Help states create and administer "red flag" laws, which allow family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily remove access to firearms for those who demonstrate they may pose a harm to themselves or others
Close the "boyfriend loophole" to prevent gun sales to domestic violence abusers in dating relationships
Invest in anti-violence programs and community safety initiatives
Fund school- and community-based mental health services

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