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Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted for bipartisan legislation that takes historic steps to combat gun violence and protect Virginia communities. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will help save lives by keeping weapons out of dangerous hands, strengthening mental health services, and bolstering school safety. The first major gun violence prevention legislation passed by Congress in nearly three decades, this bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“This sweeping gun violence prevention package we passed today marks a long-fought breakthrough in bipartisan progress on this issue which will save lives and make Virginia communities safer,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “While not as comprehensive as I’d like, the provisions in this bill – including incentivizing red flag laws, closing the boyfriend loophole, and cracking down on illegal gun sales and purchases – are meaningful steps to combat the gun violence epidemic in our country. I’m committed to continuing this progress and pushing for common sense policies to keep guns out of dangerous hands.”

Gun violence in America is responsible for more than 45,000 deaths per year, including 1,174 in Virginia alone. Every day, 30 Americans are murdered with a gun – a number that rises to more than 100 when counting suicides and accidental shootings. Communities across the nation have been torn apart by nearly 300 mass shootings since 2009 – attacks that have killed more than 1,500 people and wounded 1,000 more. 

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will implement common-sense, bipartisan measures to protect America’s children, keep our communities safe and curb gun violence across our country, including:

• Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders: Incentivizing states to implement extreme risk protection order laws to keep weapons out of the hands of individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.
• Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence: Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole” by adding convicted abusers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
• Cracking Down on Gun Trafficking and Straw Purchases: Preventing dangerous individuals from illegally evading background checks by establishing new federal criminal offenses that cover straw purchasing and trafficking.
• Enhanced Background Checks for Buyers Under 21: Requiring longer, enhanced background checks of up to ten days for gun buyers under 21 years of age.
• Anti-Violence Community Initiatives: Providing $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives. 
• Child and Family Mental Health Services: Improving access to mental health services for children, youth and families through Medicaid, CHIP and other programs.
• Investments in School Safety: Expanding mental health and supportive services in schools, including early identification and intervention programs.

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