Senate passes most sweeping gun bill in decades, setting up House vote

The Senate on Thursday night passed the most sweeping gun bill in decades designed to prevent gun violence, a major victory for advocates and a rare defeat for the National Rifle Association.

The vote was 65 to 33, with all 50 Democratic members and 15 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, voting to send the bill to the House.

“The United States Senate is doing something many believed was impossible even a few weeks ago. We are passing the first significant gun safety bill in nearly 30 years,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said immediately before the vote. “The gun safety bill we are passing tonight can be described with three adjectives: bipartisan, common sense, life saving.”

The measure offers grants to states for red flag laws and crisis prevention programs. It enhances background checks for young Americans aged 18 to 21, opening the door to accessing juvenile records. It also seeks to close the boyfriend loophole by keeping guns away from non-spouse dating partners convicted of abuse, with caveats to restore their access under certain circumstances.

Additionally, the legislation clarifies which sellers are required to register as firearm licensees, which would require them to conduct background checks on potential buyers. And it toughens penalties for gun trafficking.