WASHINGTON (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden signed into law the bipartisan gun legislation on Saturday morning, making it the most sweeping gun bill to become law in over 26 years.
Speaking from the White House before departing for Europe for a series of meetings with world leaders, Biden called the signing of the legislation a “monumental day” and said it was proof that Democrats and Republicans can work together to find common ground.
“I’d like to thank the leaders and members of the House and Senate for working together to get this done. I especially want to thank the families that Jill and I — many of whom we sat with for hours on end across the country. So many we’ve gotten to know who lost their souls and — to an epidemic of gun violence,” Biden said.
The sweeping bill will include grants to states for “red flag” laws, enhances background checks that will now include juvenile records, and closes the “boyfriend loophole” by keeping guns away from dating partners convicted of abuse. Additionally, it will now require those between the age of 18 to 21 to go through enhanced background checks before purchasing a firearm.
“God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives,” Biden said after signing the bill.
“When it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential,” Biden said. “If we can reach a compromise on guns, we ought to be able to reach a compromise on other critical issues, from veterans health care to cutting-edge American innovation to so much more.”
First Lady Jill Biden, who is also accompanying her husband on the trip, gave the President a kiss before congratulating him on the achievement. The bill becoming law is a win for Biden after a week of blow backs by the Supreme Court, which saw it struck down a New York law that required showing a special need to get a permit to carry in public and Friday overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.
“I know there’s much more work to do, and I’m never going to give up, but this is a monumental day,” Biden said. “God bless us with the strength to get the work left done.”
