Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant piece of gun violence prevention legislation in decades. In response, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
After decades of inaction amid soaring gun violence, Congress has, at last, taken a step forward. Today’s reckless gun carry decision by extremists on the U.S. Supreme Court increases the urgency for this sensible legislative action. We applaud the activists’ families who refused to take no for an answer, year after year, shooting after shooting.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act contains basic, sensible reforms that, if implemented properly, will save lives, while also creating a path for future impactful actions. Importantly, the bill closes loopholes and funds promising and effective community violence intervention programs. We look forward to the bill’s swift passage in the U.S. House of Representatives and to President Joe Biden signing it into law.
Now, progress must breed progress. As we witness the devastating toll of gun violence across the country, in both rural and urban areas, building on these reforms could not be more critical. Congress has laid the foundation for what must be a relentless campaign to combat America’s gun violence epidemic with robust measures, such as more expansive background checks, a ban on assault weapons, and targeted efforts to address the root causes of gun violence.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Tricia Woodcome at [email protected].