Dr. Ruiz Votes To Send Bipartisan Gun Violence Prevention Legislation To President's Desk

Statement

Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) voted for S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, commonsense, bipartisan legislation to reduce the threat of gun violence across the country. The bill is the first gun violence prevention legislation to pass through both chambers of Congress in 30 years.

"The House passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a positive step forward in our work to address the gun violence epidemic," said Dr. Ruiz. "With its provisions to help keep guns out of the hands of high-risk individuals, protect victims of domestic violence, and strengthen background checks for young gun buyers, this bipartisan legislation will help save lives. I voted to send this legislation to President Biden's desk today, and I look forward to seeing him quickly sign it into law. As a physician, I will continue to fight for a public health approach to the gun violence epidemic that reduces gun violence deaths and prioritizes the safety of our children and communities."

BACKGROUND

S. 2938 would help protect America's children and keep our schools safe by:

Supporting State Crisis Intervention Orders: Creates $750 million for states to create and administer laws that will ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals determined by a court to be a threat.
Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence by Closing the Boyfriend Loophole: Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Enacting Penalties for Straw Purchasing: Creates federal straw purchasing and gun trafficking criminal offenses, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners.
Clarifying the Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer: Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifies which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records.
Enhancing Background Checks for People Under 21: Requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement, for buyers under 21 years of age, creating an enhanced, longer background check of up to ten days.
Funding Anti-Violence Community Initiatives: Provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.

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