Davids Votes to Pass Bipartisan Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

Today, Representative Sharice Davids voted to pass historic, bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation, the Safer Communities Act. This bill, which passed the Senate last night, will protect Kansas children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across the country. This passage comes after Davids urged the Senate to act on critical gun safety measures following recent mass shootings.

"No family should ever have to endure the heartbreak and horror of gun violence in their lives," said Davids, "This bipartisan bill is a historic step toward curbing the epidemic of gun violence in this country and it will, quite simply, save lives. Gun violence has become the number one killer of children in America: more than car accidents or cancer. These new provisions attack that statistic head-on by giving both our law enforcement and youth needed tools to prevent future gun violence. I am proud to have voted today to send this bill to the President's desk."

The Safer Communities Act ensures that guns don't get into hands of individuals who are ineligible to purchase or possess them under federal law, particularly prospective buyers under age 21, and seeks to reduce the availability of illegal guns. It also increases access to mental health services for both the general population and children, and invests in programs to expand supportive services in schools, including early identification and intervention programs, improvements in school-wide learning conditions, and school safety. The bill's cost is entirely offset.

Following the shooting at Olathe East High earlier this year, Davids voiced support for more measures that could prevent future school shootings, including more comprehensive permanent mental health services at K-12 schools. Last year, Davids voted to expand background checks, helping to keep guns out of the hands of people who may be a danger to themselves or others, and supported addressing the "Charleston Loophole," which currently allows the sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check is not completed within three business days.

Background:

Some of the specific provisions in the Safer Communities Act include:

• Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders: Creates $750 million for states to create and administer laws that will ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals determined by a court.
• Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence by Closing the Boyfriend Loophole: Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
• Penalties for Straw Purchasing: Creates federal straw purchasing and gun trafficking criminal offenses, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners.
• Clarified Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer: Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifies which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records.
• Enhanced Background Checks for People Under 21: Requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement, for buyers under 21 years of age, creating an enhanced, longer background check of up to ten days.
• Anti-Violence Community Initiatives: Provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.