The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed in 2022, with the goal of closing a so-called “gun show loophole,” putting into effect gun violence prevention policies, and making an investment in school safety.
What The Law Does
The law will provide over $13 billion in Federal funding toward public safety and programs to stop gun violence before it occurs. It includes $1 billion to give communities tools to prevent violence by temporarily removing firearms from individuals in crisis and for public health programs for communities most affected by gun violence.
The greatest part of the program seems to be that it proves Congress can come together in a bipartisan way to pass sensible legislation to address gun violence in our country when pressed to do so. It is one of the most significant pieces of legislation in more than 30 years to reduce gun violence.
Helping to Stem Gun Violence in America
According to the Center for American Progress the legislation will save lives by:
- Improving the background check system by broadening the definition of licensed gun dealers.
- Improves background checks for buyers under age 21.
- Establishing federal criminal offenses for straw purchasing and trafficking.
- Addressing dating violence by partially closing the dating partner loophole.
- Supporting implementation of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) and other crisis intervention services.
- Expanding community violence intervention programs.
- Supporting and expanding positive learning environments and safe schools.
- Funding a 21st century pipeline of mental health professionals.
- Expanding access to mental health services.
On Thursday, the Biden administration moved forward on a piece of the law that expands background checks. The rule was submitted to the Federal Register by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and will help to eliminate the loophole that allows for the sale of guns without a background check at gun shows.
Is It enough?
According to an article produced by the RAND organization, the evidence for background checks on reducing gun violence is inconclusive at best.
“Evidence that dealer background checks may reduce firearm homicides is moderate,” said the group. “Evidence that universal background checks may reduce total homicides is moderate, and evidence that these laws may reduce firearm homicides is limited.”
A Public Health Crisis
With the epidemic of school shootings across the country, Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling says, gun violence is just that: a public health crisis.
A Northwell Health study published last year found a 40% increase in child firearm deaths.
According to their findings, in 2020, firearm injuries overtook traffic accidents as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. Researchers found a 41.6% increase in the firearm death rate among children and adolescents between 2018-2021.
Locally, it seems that gun violence is on the rise.
Data provided by New York State’s Division of Criminal Justice Services shows an increase of violent crimes by firearm in that same time period (2018-2022) on Long Island. In 2018 the total number of violent crimes by firearm was at 3,021 on Long Island increasing every year to a total of 3,639 in 2022.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis and as [the] research shows, children in communities of color and lower income are more at risk to die at the hands of a firearm. Enough is enough,” said Dowling in a statement. “Through community partners, fellow health system leaders, policymakers and politicians, we can move to reverse this ugly trend of child deaths. The time to act is long overdue.”
Photo by Katie Godowski.
