President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the critical gun safety bill known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, one of the most consequential pieces of federal firearms legislation since the 1990s.
The Senate passed the bill on Thursday, followed by the House on Friday.
In response to mass shootings at the Topps supermarket in Buffalo and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, lawmakers were under immense pressure to pass legislation, and they worked for weeks to craft a bill that includes millions of dollars for mental health services and school security.
The bill also provides funding for states to implement red flag laws, which generally allows law enforcement to temporarily seize guns from individuals who are a threat to themselves or others.
"After 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to heed the call of families across the country and passed legislation to address the scourge of gun violence in our communities," said Biden on Thursday after the Senate passed the bill into law.
"Families in Uvalde and Buffalo — and too many tragic shootings before — have demanded action. And tonight, we acted."
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
