June 22nd, 2022
Dear 2022 Members and Guests,
The U.S. Senate voted last night to advance a new bipartisan gun control bill in a procedural move that saw 14 Republicans support firearm restrictions.
The 64 to 34 vote was a crucial step in potentially passing the legislation, signaling that it may eclipse the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster in the Senate when the bill comes up for an official vote. The bill would need the backing of 10 Republicans and all Senate Democrats to avoid a filibuster.
The 80-page bill includes expanded background checks for gun buyers under 21, provides grants for states that implement their own red flag laws and offers additional funding for both school safety measures and mental health services.
The measure also creates penalties for straw purchases of firearms, requires more gun sellers to register as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers and closes the so-called boyfriend loophole by prohibiting gun access for people convicted of domestic abuse against an intimate partner.
If the Senate breaks a filibuster, the bill would then be put up for a final passage vote. From there, the House would have to vote on the legislation before it can land on President Biden’s desk.
The National Rifle Association slammed the Senate’s bill text for its bipartisan gun control package, saying it “falls short at every level.”
“The NRA will support legislation that improves school security, promotes mental health services, and helps reduce violent crime. However, we will oppose this gun control legislation because it falls short at every level. It does little to truly address violent crime while opening the door to unnecessary burdens on the exercise of Second Amendment freedom by law-abiding gun owners,” the NRA said in a statement Tuesday.
READ THE BILL HERE
Here are the names of the GOP Senators who agreed to advance the Bill:
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky,
Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia,
John Cornyn of Texas,
Joni Ernst of Iowa,
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska,
Todd Young of Indiana,
Thom Tillis and Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine,
Mitt Romney of Utah,
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana,
Rob Portman of Ohio,
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina,
Roy Blunt of Missouri
Sincerely,
Diane Scherff
President
Trump Club of SJC
