Gun safety bill a necessary step forward

After some tense moments over the past week when it looked like the bill was in trouble, a group of U.S. senators on Tuesday said they had reached agreement on a gun safety plan that has long eluded reformers. Led by Connecticut’s Chris Murphy, the group announced a series of measures that will close some loopholes and dedicate resources toward keeping people safer. It’s an important step forward.

Spurred by the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, and nearly 10 years after Sandy Hook Elementary School became scarred in the nation’s memory, the bill is the first step forward on gun safety on a national level in decades. At a time when many states are moving in the opposite direction, loosening restrictions and reducing obstacles to gun ownership, it’s important to see the federal government decide that there are limits to what can be allowed.

This plan will not infringe on the Second Amendment. Even conservative legal scholars have been clear that the right to bear arms is not unlimited, and the question of where and how to draw the line is an ongoing issue. This bill is simply another step in trying to answer those age-old questions.

Among measures the bill takes are:

Closing the boyfriend loophole. This was the cause of some consternation among Republican backers, but the text of the bill makes clear that domestic abuse will be a hindrance toward a person buying a weapon. This is a long overdue step.

Enhanced background checks for younger people. With the prevalence of teenagers committing mass shootings, including in Uvalde, this is a good step toward ensuring that extra measures are taken to prevent guns from going to the wrong people.

Investing in mental health care. This would be necessary even if not attached to a gun bill. However, because so many people in positions of authority say our mass shootings crisis is about mental health rather than firearms, it is important that any bill make investments in that area, as well.

Cracking down on gun trafficking and straw purchasing. These are moves that law enforcement officers have been asking for going back years, and this bill will finally help stop some of the illegal flow of weapons.

Red flag laws. The bill encourages states to enact laws that can alert authorities to dangers before they happen, and states that have them have credited red flag laws with preventing crimes.

No one is under the impression that the bill is perfect or that it covers every base. The threat caused by guns that are capable of killing dozens of people in seconds will continue even if this bill is signed into law. We are a nation awash in firearms and, not coincidentally, in gun violence. The two are intimately connected.

But the bill needs to be passed. It’s a sign that even in polarized times, there is room for agreement. Washington is deeply damaged, but it’s possible that it’s not yet broken.

It’s sad that it took a tragedy like we saw in Texas to get to this point. But we must ensure that this moment, which could be fleeting, does not go to waste.

It’s a sign that even in polarized times, there is room for agreement. Washington is deeply damaged, but it’s possible that it’s not yet broken.