NEW YORK STATE – As the topic of gun control continues to make its way throughout state and national government, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Saturday, June 25 the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which has now been signed into law.

The act came in response to recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas.

Its main functions include enhancing background checks for people under 21, creating a $750 million funding pot to incentivize red flag laws, close the ‘boyfriend’ loophole, enforce action on gun dealers and illegal trafficking of firearms, and increased funding and support for children and family mental health services.

“This bipartisan gun-safety legislation will save lives. The American people have waited long enough, and after decades of the NRA’s vice grip, legislation has finally progressed to keep our communities safe. As the author of the Brady background checks bill from 1994—the last major legislative effort to fight gun violence in Congress—I’m pleased that this moment has finally come, and that we’re finally taking meaningful action to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Schumer. “This would not be possible without the survivors of gun violence, families and advocates who have turned their grief into action and lit a candle to bring us out of the darkness to finally pass commonsense gun safety laws.”

Schumer added, “I hope that this paves the way for future action on guns in Congress and at all levels of government. This is not a cure-all for all the ways gun violence affects our nation, but it is a long-overdue step in the right direction. Passing this gun safety bill is truly significant and it is going to save lives.”

Supreme Court decision

In addition to this legislation from Schumer, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, June 23, that New York’s concealed carry gun law was unconstitutional in a 6-3 decision.

The law formally required those applying for a license to have “proper cause” to conceal carry a firearm outside of their homes, but has since been stuck down by the Supreme Court on the basis of it violating of the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

Champions of the Second Amendment praised the ruling.

“The Supreme Court’s decision marks a historic, proper, and necessary victory for law abiding citizens of New York, whose Second Amendment rights have been under constant attack,” Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin, who is running for Governor, said in a statement. “It reaffirms their inherent right to safely and securely carry to protect themselves, their families and their loved ones, and the principle that this Constitutional right shall not be infringed.”

“This decision isn’t just reckless, it’s reprehensible,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul of the Supreme Court’s decision. “The federal government will not have sweeping laws to protect us ... our states and our governors have a moral responsibility to do what we can and have laws that protect our citizens because of what is going on — the insanity of the gun culture that has possessed everyone all the way up to the Supreme Court.”