Bipartisan Federal Gun Legislation Deal: What To Know In CT

CONNECTICUT — A bipartisan group of senators announced the framework of a bill crafted in response to several recent mass shootings.

Connecticut senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal were among the group of 10 Democratic and Republican senators who crafted the framework.

“This is indeed a breakthrough moment for the anti-gun violence movement for survivors, for parents and for advocates,” Murphy said at a news conference.

Many parts of the proposal are modeled after the failures that allowed mass shooters to get their weapons.

The proposal doesn’t include a ban on assault weapons or raising the age to purchase an assault weapon to 21. It also doesn’t include a universal background check system.

Here are the highlights:

When will there be a vote?

Language for the bill still needs to be drafted. Congress is due to go into recess in two weeks, but Murphy said he is hopeful there will be a vote before then.

“This framework is receiving lots of support,” he said. “But it is also receiving criticism from both the left and the right, as any good compromise should. So we've got to do the hard work of convincing 60 of our colleagues, not just the 20 that were on that press release.”

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has committed to put the measure on the floor as soon as it’s ready to go, Blumenthal said.

Help states with “red flag” laws

The bill would provide states with support to create and administer “red flag” laws, which allow law enforcement to temporarily confiscate weapons from people if a court finds they are a significant danger to themselves or others.

Connecticut was the first state to pass a red flag law.

“We were the first in the nation to have a red flag Law after the lottery shooting, but we've just expanded it in ways that I think can be a model for other states,” Blumenthal said.

A change to Connecticut’s law went into effect June 1 that allows family members and certain medical professionals to apply for risk warrants.

New York’s red flag law wasn’t implemented effectively, which allowed the Buffalo grocery store shooter to get a gun, Blumenthal said.

Buyers under 21

The proposal includes enhanced background checks for people under 21 who want to purchase a gun. It requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records.

Murphy said he would’ve preferred banning assault weapon sales and raising the purchasing age to 21, but the bipartisan group was able to find common ground on the enhanced background check system.

The Robb Elementary School shooter in Uvalde, Texas was able to buy AR-15 style guns shortly after his 18th birthday.

Licensed gun dealer

Clarifies laws about who needs to register as a licensed gun dealer, so all commercial sellers must submit purchases for background checks.

“We have a lot of folks who sell, you know, dozens of weapons a year, but because they claim it's a hobby or because they claim it's their second gig, they don't perform background checks,” Murphy said.

The move would result in thousands of sales being subject to the background check system.

A mass shooter in Odessa, Texas couldn’t buy a gun at a gun store because of his mental health history, but was able to buy one online without a background check.

“The seller in that case, was a regular seller of firearms on Arms List,” Murphy said. “He was selling on average well over a dozen guns every year. But he read the statute and came to the conclusion that he was a hobbyist, not a seller required to be licensed under federal law.”

The Trump administration brought civil action against the seller.

The proposal falls short of a universal background check system for any gun transfer.

Close boyfriend loophole

Prevent people convicted of domestic assault against a boyfriend/girlfriend from purchasing a weapon. Current law only prevents the purchase of a weapon when assault is committed against a spouse.

Federal straw purchase rules

The proposal would enhance federal laws for straw purchases, which is when a person buys a gun for another person, sometimes because the other person is banned from owning a weapon.

The proposal would elevate the criminal penalty to that of gun trafficking instead of a paperwork-level violation, Murphy said.

“We’re going to have federal tools to go after the traffickers who buy all their weapons in South Carolina, or Georgia, and bring them up to Hartford and sell them on the streets of the city,” Murphy said.

Funding for mental health and school safety resources

Part of the framework includes funding for mental health and school safety resources, including support for school violence prevention efforts and staff training.