Washington: US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the most sweeping legislation which aims to prevent gun violence in 30 years.
It was a bipartisan move that follows a spate of mass shootings recently, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school.
Calling it a “monumental day” Biden said it was proof that Democrats and Republicans could find common ground on important issues.
“God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives,” the President said at White House shortly before leaving for Europe for a number of meetings with world leaders.
The bill proposes to provide grants to states for “red flag” laws, enhances background checks to include juvenile records and closes the “boyfriend loophole” by keeping guns away from unmarried dating partners convicted of abuse.
There will also be enhanced background checks for people aged between 18 and 21 and funding for youth mental health services.
“When it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential… If we can reach a compromise on guns, we ought to be able to reach a compromise on other critical issues, from veterans’ health care to cutting-edge American innovation to so much more,” Biden said.
“I know there’s much more work to do, and I’m never going to give up, but this is a monumental day,” Biden said. “God bless us with the strength to get the work left done.”
