After nearly three decades, Congress is finally taking action towards reducing mass shootings in America and implementing common-sense gun safety policies at the national level, passing historic legislation. 15 Republicans came to the table to work and help fix the scourge of gun violence. Florida Senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, voted no, disregarding the 65% of Floridians who want updated gun laws after the Parkland shooting.
The legislation passed by Congress will close the current “boyfriend loophole” and will be a critical step to preventing people convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun to include romantic or intimate partners. The old version of the law only applies to married people living with or having a child with the victim, thus creating the deadly loophole.
The bill passed by Congress today also invests more than $7 billion in mental health services and provides state funding for what are known as “red flag laws,” enhancing the background check process for gun buyers aged 18 to 21 and cracking down on the illegal gun trafficking. The bill has passed both chambers of Congress as of today, and will be sent to President Biden to be signed into law.
“While there is still more to do, this national legislation represents the most significant step forward to protect communities against gun violence in decades. I am appalled at our Florida Senators who voted against this common-sense legislation that will save lives, and remain personally dedicated to continuing our efforts to pass similar legislation in Florida,” said Representative Daley (D-Coral Springs).
