The Democratic-majority House of Representatives of the United States approved this Wednesday (8) an initiative to strengthen firearms control after the shootings in Uvalde (Texas) and Buffalo (New York), although
The bill contains the toughest gun control measures the House has passed in decades.
The initiative, dubbed “Protejamos Nossas Crianças” proposes to raise the age at which semi-automatic rifles can be purchased from 18 to 21 years and bans high-capacity bullet cartridges, that were used in Uvalde and Buffalo by young people of 18 years.
In addition, it proposes measures to regulate the homemade weapons, known as ” phantom guns”, as they do not have serial numbers and are responsible for an increasing number of shootings.
This first initiative was approved with 223 votes in favor and 204 against. Five Republicans broke with their party and endorsed the measure, while two Democrats voted “no.”
The House of Representatives will also vote tonight on a second bill known as the “Federal Protection from Extreme Hazards”.
This legislation is intended to extend nationwide the so-called “hazard alert” (“Red Flag”) laws that have been passed by states such as California, New York and Florida. and that allow for the activation of a legal procedure to confiscate firearms from those who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
Today’s votes take place after a House committee has heard the testimony of the victims of the shooting at the school in Uvalde, in which 19 students and two teachers died, as well as the victims of the attack on a supermarket in Buffalo.
Between Witnesses at the hearing were Miah Cerrillo, a 11 year old girl who survived the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and who described to lawmakers the nightmare of that day, when she had to cover herself in the blood of a friend to play dead and save his life.
“I don’t want it to happen again,” said the little girl. in a video, in which he demanded “security” from Congress.
It is quite possible that neither of the two House initiatives will even be debated in the Senate, as Democrats have a narrow majority in that House.
In the Senate, a group of Democrats and Republicans are negotiating a more moderate bill with provisions to increase background checks and limit the sale of components of some pistols, a minimal proposal on which they hope to reach an agreement before the end of the week.
