BREAKING: Senators Reach Gun Control Agreement That Focuses On 9 Points

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators announced Sunday that they had agreed to a framework to implement new gun control measures following the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, late last month.

“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country,” the group of 20 Senators said in a statement. “Our plan increases needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can’t purchase weapons.”

The statement included nine points of focus:

Support for State Crisis Intervention OrdersProvides resources to states and tribes to create and administer laws that help ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals whom a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others, consistent with state and federal due process and constitutional protections.Investment in Children and Family Mental Health ServicesNational expansion of community behavioral health center model; major investments to increase access to mental health and suicide prevention programs; and other support services available in the community, including crisis and trauma intervention and recovery.Protections for Victims of Domestic ViolenceConvicted domestic violence abusers and individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders are included in NICS, including those who have or have had a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.Funding for School-Based Mental Health and Supportive ServicesInvests in programs to expand mental health and supportive services in schools, including: early identification and intervention programs and school based mental health and wrap-around services.Funding for School Safety ResourcesInvests in programs to help institute safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools, support school violence prevention efforts and provide training to school personnel and students.Clarification of Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms DealerCracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements.Telehealth InvestmentsInvests in programs that increase access to mental and behavioral health services for youth and families in crisis via telehealth.Under 21 Enhanced Review ProcessFor buyers under 21 years of age, requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement.Penalties for Straw PurchasingCracks down on criminals who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns.

The U.S. Senators that were part of the statement announcing the new measures included Chris Murphy (D-CT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Cory Booker (D- NJ), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Pat Toomey (R-PA).

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