Shaheen’s statement on the coming into force of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act

June 25, 2022

(Washington, DC) – US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in the law. This key legislation supported by Senator Shaheen and passed by the Senate last week will reduce the threat of gun violence and keep communities safe.

“Uvalde. Buffalo. Newton. Charleston. Las Vegas. These tragic mass killings are embedded in our national consciousness, and the trauma will be felt for generations to come. Action to help affected communities start the healing process is long overdue, and finally Congress has taken an important first step in passing meaningful gun reform legislation.With the President’s signature today, we now have the most comprehensive gun reform law ever. important for nearly three decades, said Shaheen. “This law represents significant progress in keeping guns out of the wrong hands – including criminals and those who pose a danger to themselves and others – as well as expanding access to essential firearms services. Mental Health. The bipartisan consensus around this legislation is unprecedented, but let’s be clear: More action is undeniably needed to end mass gun violence. Our fight for stronger gun safety protections for Americans continues, but today I am proud to have helped bring this legislation across the finish line.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will be:

• Build support for state crisis response orders by helping states implement red flag laws, ensuring lethal weapons do not fall into the hands of individuals the State considers a danger to themselves or others
• Improving protections for victims of domestic violence by removing the boyfriend loophole, which would ensure that the current gun possession ban for those convicted of domestic violence offenses applies to serious romantic partners
• Improve the review process for arms purchases made by those under 21, including by
  • Expanded background check process for buyers under 21
  • Require NICS to contact states for juvenile criminal history and mental health adjudication records
  • Clarify when a person is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms so that they must complete background checks before the sale
  • Increase penalties for illegal straw purchases
  • Crack down on gun trafficking by creating an explicit federal ban on transporting or shipping firearms if there are reasonable grounds to believe the recipient cannot have them
  • Expand Byrne grants to allow states to use these grants to implement state crisis response programs, such as mental health, drug, and/or veterans courts and laws on extreme risk protection orders that include due process protections; and more.

An invoice page is available here. The full text of the bill is available here.

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