U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy was one of 15 Republican lawmakers to vote for a new gun control bill Thursday night that received approval in the Senate on a 65-33 vote. Cassidy says, despite what critics of the bill say, it is good legislation. The bill was introduced after the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Cassidy says the bill includes more stringent background checks for gun buyers, and will also take steps to make schools safer.
“…and we do that by giving a billion dollars to harden schools, which is in addition to the money we already give…but also acting to create expanded access to mental health” he says.
Cassidy says if the bill had been passed before Uvalde the tragedy may have been prevented, because the bill will allow a background check to include one’s record of juvenile offenses. He says current law doesn’t do this.
“In most states, anything that happens before age 18 is sealed, and not allowed to be included. People say (of the Uvalde shooter) ‘well, I looked on the Internet and there’s nothing that he did.’ Yes, because those records have been sealed.”
Cassidy says no one with a clean criminal record need worry this bill threatens their Second Amendment rights. He says the bipartisan legislation will help make schools harder for intruders to infiltrate. He says the mental health portion of the bill will not only help with potentially violent kids, it will also benefit kids who may be thinking of hurting themselves. Cassidy says any reasonable thinking person would see the good in the legislation.
“If you are law-abiding, there is no impact on your Second Amendment rights. Bottom line. And if anybody tells somebody differently…they are wrong.”
Louisiana’s junior U.S. Senator John Kennedy voted against the bill. Kennedy has not released an official statement on why he voted no, but previously said that we do not need more gun control in America, we need more idiot control.
The bill still needs U.S. House approval. Politico reported earlier this week that Congressman Steve Scalise has told colleagues he opposes the legislation.
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