RELEASE: Murphy Statement On Biden Administration's Report On Implementation Of The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Press (Murphy)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2024
CONTACT
Deni Kamper
MURPHY STATEMENT ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday released the following statement on the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s report outlining the implementation and impact of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) two years following its passage.
“Gun murder rates in our cities are plummeting, and there's no doubt the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a big part of the story. This report is more proof that BSCA is saving lives. Writing and passing the first comprehensive gun safety law in thirty years was the hard part, but all that work would be for nothing if not for the Biden administration’s laser focus on implementation. In the past two years, they’ve awarded millions of dollars to states and local communities for community violence intervention, expanded mental health services and school safety efforts, successfully increased the number of background checks, and cracked down on gun traffickers. I’m grateful we have a gun safety champion like President Biden in the White House who is determined to make sure BSCA is as effective as possible in making our communities safer.”
President Biden signed into law Murphy’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June 2022. Over the last two years:
- The Department of Justice has made 30 awards for community violence intervention programs, totaling $94 million.
- The Department of Justice has charged more than 500 defendants using BSCA’s new gun trafficking and straw purchasing laws, removing hundreds of firearms from the streets in the process.
- The FBI’s new enhanced background checks have stopped 776 sales of firearms to individuals under 21 who are prohibited from purchasing firearms.
- 14 states are already using or plan to use BSCA funding to increase use of red flag laws, helping to keep guns out of the hands of people who are in crisis.
- The Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $570 million to 264 grantees across 48 states and territories for the hiring and training of mental health professionals to work in schools.
- The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $85 million in funding to more than 125 school districts to help schools identify students who need mental health care and help them access that care through the Project AWARE program.
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