A group of 20 U.S. senators announced a deal Sunday on an outline of a bill designed to give the appearance that they are taking meaningful action on gun violence and mass shootings.
But gun safety advocates were quick to point out that the deal mostly ignored guns—and rather focused on those areas that the NRA and their Republican supporters prefer the debate to be: mental health and hardening of schools.
"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," the group said in a statement on Sunday. "We look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our commonsense proposal into law."
What's NOT in the Senate gun deal
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 12, 2022
—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
The "commonsense" deal doesn't include any of the key provisions gun safety advocates say are necessary. The proposal has:
- 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 checks
- No safe storage rules at homes
- No requiring background checks on Internet sales and at gun shows
- No banning family members purchasing weapons for their kids
Ryan Shead, a disabled veteran, gun control advocate and Arizona State Rep candidate, tweeted: "This bill is a joke! This makes it sound like mental health is the cause for gun violence. It's the fucking guns! Funding for school safety? It's the fucking guns! Do better!! Kids are dying."
A laughably weak deal. Just the worst kind of empty bipartisanship. Senate Democrats are making a huge mistake giving Republicans cover on the gun violence epidemic without getting anything of substance in return. https://t.co/5jDMu9MrjI
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) June 12, 2022
The bipartisan gun framework is out. It includes:
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 12, 2022
• Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders
• Investment in Children and Family Mental Health Services
• Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
• Under 21 Enhanced Review Process
• Penalties for Straw Purchasing
The gun reform framework is inadequate. If they don’t have the courage to put universal background checks in the bill, something that 88% of Americans support, it’s a charade, not legislation. No courage.
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) June 12, 2022
Framework for a bipartisan deal on gun reform in Senate, per CNN.
— The Recount (@therecount) June 12, 2022
Would include:
• incentivizing states to pass red flag laws
• expanding mental health aid
• strengthening background checks
• $$ for school security
Would not:
• ban assault weapons
• raising buying age pic.twitter.com/5LXUHkSewp
Coward Senators @SenateGOP @dscc reach gun safety deal so they can say they did “something”. #UniversalBackgroundChecks and #AssaultWeaponsBan will have to wait for more mass killings, but the Republicans will crow about how they’re protecting children https://t.co/0ZyRBYcWUp
— politicalnash (@Nach9636) June 12, 2022
Deal doesn’t include many restrictions sought by gun control advocates, such as raising the age to 21 to purchase semi-automatic rifles, safe storage rules at homes or requiring background checks on Internet sales and at gun shows. Juvenile records would be searched for under 21
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 12, 2022
I support these bipartisan measures that would begin to curb gun violence in America. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will find a way to make these changes and provide these resources. We need to continue our efforts to pass common sense gun safety laws. https://t.co/krysxoiPsj
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) June 12, 2022
Please stop telling me we have to take baby steps with gun legislation. Kids are dying. Grow a pair of balls and fix the problem.
— Ryan Shead (@RyanShead) June 12, 2022
And the rest of you, get out and vote in every election! #GunOwnersforGunControl
I am seriously angry about this. @ChrisMurphyCT this is basically a Republican list of thoughts and prayers while the American people get crumbs and still face mass slaughter from AR15's.
— Shar G (@hapkidogal) June 12, 2022
