First bipartisan gun control bill in a generation signed into law: 3 essential reads on what it means
The ConversationDec 30, 2021
The Facts
US Pres. Biden signed the most extensive gun legislation in decades on Sat. after the starkly divided Senate and House passed the bill earlier in the week.
After a bipartisan coalition in the Senate garnered a 65-33 vote in favor on Thurs., the House passed the bill, known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, on Fri. 234-193.
The Spin
Left narrative
Thanks to the perseverance of Democrats demanding common-sense gun control, Republicans have finally signed some, albeit moderate, gun measures. This is an important first step towards more advanced gun legislation in the future, such as maybe finally banning assault weapons.
Right narrative
There's every indication there will be a red wave in the midterm elections; Republican support for this bill is thus incomprehensible from a politically strategic standpoint. But beyond that, these laws are mostly fluff that will do nothing to prevent future mass shootings, which will only give Democrats more leverage when they inevitably call for outright gun confiscation in the future.