On Wednesday, House Democrats advanced legislation that would create a federally regulated list of people who voluntarily agree to be prohibited from purchasing firearms.
The legislation’s supporters claim that more than 25,000 Americans lose their lives to gun suicides each year, which the bill seeks to prevent. Reps. Pramila Jayapal and John Curtis have proposed a bill that would allow anyone who fears they might commit suicide with a gun to sign up on a list of people who would then be prohibited from purchasing a firearm.
After a discussion in which Republicans claimed the bill is the latest attempt by Democrats to push the nation toward a gun ban, the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill on a party-line vote.
Rep. Tom Massie continued, expressing concern that those who give a firearm as a gift to someone who is on the list could become criminals as a result of the bill. Democrats stated that was not the intention of the law during the committee hearing and expressed a willingness to have it fixed later. Republicans countered that the lack of clarity on this matter is yet another reason they cannot support the bill.
Democrats portrayed the bill as a vital tool for reducing the epidemic of suicides, which involve guns in more than half of cases.
Republicans cautioned, however, that once someone is on the list, it will likely be very difficult for them to be removed.
The bill’s approval by the Judiciary Committee puts it in a debatable situation. It’s doubtful that the House will find time to pass the bill before the end of the year, which is required for it to become law.
It’s uncertain whether 10 Republicans can be found to support it in the Senate, even if the House can pass it. In response to a spate of shootings across the nation, Democrats in the Senate are already debating how to advance gun legislation in the final weeks of the year.
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