House sends Biden historic gun control bill with help from Republicans

House lawmakers gave final approval on Friday to the first the nation’s first new gun laws in nearly 30 years, sending a huge victory for Democrats to President Biden’s desk with the help of Republicans. 

In a 234-139 vote, the House passed a gun control bill that expands background checks to include juvenile records and incentivizes states to adopt “red flag” laws that are used to confiscate guns from people deemed dangerous by a judge. 

“Every day, gun violence steals lives and scars communities — and this crisis demands urgent action,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat. “While we must do more, [this bill] is a step forward that will help protect our children and save lives.”

Overall, 14 House Republicans with nearly every single House Democrat voted to pass the bill. The GOP supporters were mostly moderates from swing districts. 

The majority of the chamber’s Republicans, however, opposed the legislation. Most argued the bill did not go far enough in strengthening school security while infringing too much on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.