By: Amelia FortunatoH.R. 8 is a bill designed to get rid of the loopholes in the system that enable criminals and people with mental illness records to obtain guns. This bill was designed to stop gun violence but arguably does not strip people of their 2nd Amendment right. It would make it so that it would be illegal to sell guns without performing background checks as an unlicensed dealer, something that is not currently in place today. Due to the fact that this is not in place today, many people with criminal and mental illness records can easily obtain guns, which people argue raises the already high rates of gun violence in America. On Wednesday, February 27, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass this bill to the Senate, who will be voting on it in time to come.
So, how does H.R. 8 affect the country, which is ranked 30 when looking at gun-related homicides? (PBS) In 2019 alone, there have already been 8,689 incidents due to guns (Gun Violence Archive). According to Lawcenter, 40% of guns acquired in America are obtained through unlicensed dealers, meaning these purchases do not require background checks. This can lead to anyone purchasing a firearm, including someone who isn’t mentally stable, which can lead to shootings. If H.R. 8 were to pass, people would have to go through stricter background checks to get guns. This has the ability to lower the number of gun deaths in America, which was nearly 40,000 people in 2017 (Vox). Although there is no certain date for when the Senate will vote on H.R. 8, activists for gun violence legislation are already letting their senators know their opinions. For example, March for Our Lives, the organization started by survivors of the Parkland shooting last February, are planning to meet with Senators on March 25, 2019, and plan to deliver letters written by advocates for the bill. It is predicted that the bill will not pass the Senate due to the majority of Republicans, some of which receive money from the National Rifle Association (NRA). However, only time will tell. .
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