New Law Enacted By AG Garland Prevents 500 Youth From Accessing Guns

Since the implementation of a new gun law in 2022 requiring stricter background checks for young people, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that more than 500 gun purchases have been blocked. This announcement comes a day after a tragic school shooting in Iowa resulting in the death of a sixth-grader.

The bipartisan law, passed in June 2022, is considered the most comprehensive gun legislation in decades. It mandates additional checks for any gun purchases by individuals under the age of 21. Those who have been denied a gun purchase include individuals convicted of rape, suspects in attempted murder cases, and those who have been involuntarily committed for mental-health treatment, according to the Justice Department.

President Joe Biden commended the news, describing it as an important milestone.

“Simply put: this legislation is saving lives,” Biden said in a statement, where he also called for additional measures such as universal background checks and a ban on firearms often referred to as assault weapons. President Biden also expressed pride in taking more executive action than any president in history to combat gun violence in America and emphasized his commitment to continuing these efforts.

It remains unclear how the shooter obtained the weapons, as individuals under 18 cannot legally purchase guns in federally regulated purchases.

The 2022 law was passed in response to a series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. The legislation also includes measures to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of domestic violence offenders and helps states implement red flag laws to make it easier for authorities to seize weapons from individuals deemed to be dangerous.

The law requires additional checks with state and local officials for young buyers, in addition to the FBI databases typically used in the gun purchasing approval process. As a result, 527 gun sales have been blocked, stated Garland.

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