The House Judiciary Committee recently advanced the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. The bill would require background checks for all public and private gun purchases in the United States. Last week, it passed through the United States House of Representatives after a 240-190 vote.

As it advances to the Republican-majority U.S. Senate, the bill’s future is unsure. But if it’s enacted, it could encourage legislators to take further action regarding gun control.

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Mandating background checks would make the process of obtaining firearms more difficult and could help reduce gun violence rates. While this bill won’t prevent criminals from obtaining firearms illegally, it can still decrease the number of guns in circulation.

“Other countries have banned assault weapons outright, and their rates of gun violence are very low,” said Julia White, a Syracuse University assistant professor in the School of Education. “(They) also have strict licensing requirements to be a gun owner like prospective licensees must take courses, go through extensive background checks, be subject to spot inspections and so on.”

The house’s passage of this bill represents a push to keep guns out of the wrong hands and reduce gun violence. Most importantly, bipartisan support  of the bill shows that gun control is not just a political issue. It concerns the safety of American citizens, regardless of party affiliation.

Ellen deLara, a social work professor and school shootings expert at SU, said the cooperation between both sides of the aisle sets this bill apart from past gun control legislation.

“It signifies the fact that the Democrats and Republicans are willing to work together to tackle this ongoing problem,” deLara said.

There have also been recent cases in which people have committed crimes after purchasing a gun legally and going through a background check. But, mandating background checks would still help states and the federal government identify weak spots in this safety process.

In a country where mass shootings frequently occur, there are several steps to take to reduce gun violence. This bill can be the first.

Lauren Spiezia is a freshman newspaper and online Journalism major. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at lespiezi@syr.edu.

Published on March 5, 2019 at 10:30 pm