Senators have announced a bipartisan gun reform framework addressing issues like mental health, school safety, and illegal gun purchases. The path forward is still uncertain, but we know Democrats have a very ambitious goal to draft the bill and keep republicans on board before the next recess. Christian Heyne, vice president of policy at Brady, joins Cheddar News to discuss.

Cheddar's News Wrap

Breaking Down the Bipartisan Gun Deal

senators have created a bipartisan framework. You don't hear me use that word often. That appears to have enough votes to pass the Senate perhaps within weeks. The framework addresses issues like mental health school safety, illegal gun purchases. The path forward is still uncertain, but we know democrats have a very ambitious goal to draft the bill and keep republicans on board before the next recess. Joining me. Now to discuss is christian Hiney, vice president of policy at brady. Welcome to the show. Kristen first breakdown for us. What's included in the bipartisan gun deal. Yeah, and really it is an impressive collection of policies that really touch on the comprehensive nature of, of gun violence. Um, what we see here is, as mentioned, um, support for states that have extreme risk protection orders in particular to make sure that those orders can be robustly and effectively implemented as well as, um, trying to provide incentives for states to enlist their own extreme risk protection orders. He's been proven to be very effective against preventing firearms suicide and preventing mass shootings. Um, there is a provision in here that had been previously taken out of the Violence against Women act that will close what we know as the boyfriend loophole, meaning that if you are a victim of domestic abuse right now, there's a certain set of rules and protections that you are provided if you are married to your abuser as opposed to if you were just dating your abuser. And, and this policy would take care of that clarification. There's a provision in here that would help clarify and define what it means to be engaged in the business of selling selling guns, which really serves as a baseline and, and uh, and uh, um introductory language to the universal background check system that we we know that we need so desperately these are a handful of provision that is in an otherwise pretty Comprehensive package considering the 10 Republicans that have signed on. So we're really excited about the progress ahead, Christian. What do you think is missing from this bipartisan deal? Yeah, I mean, there is a lot that we would like to see included here, right? And a lot that we know this problem of gun violence demands. We really are dealing with the epidemic that is claiming the lives of more than 100 people every day. And we experience gun violence uniquely here in America. So we know that in order to really get a grasp and address gun mountains in all of its forms, we are going to need to do something to implement a universal background check to ban the use of of weapons of war in the hands of civilians, which lead to too much violence that we see day in and day out. But I have got to say we are incredibly encouraged by what we are seeing the senators talk about in this package. 10 republicans say senators say that they support this framework. Why do you think that's significant. And with that said, what do democrats have ahead of them with only 10 republican senators on board with us? I mean the number itself is meaningful. We know that the for too long mitch McConnell and others have utilized the procedural filibuster to prevent the policies that so many Americans, of Americans support the fact that this was introduced in in a comprehensive way and and by the way, has policies like the boyfriend loophole that we have seen republicans previously buck. It shows that we are in a moment in time and in history and how the gun violence prevention movement has really progressed in in the last 10 years. I think it shows that people are coming to the table in earnest and and really want to get something done. So my hope is that we can do it and do it quickly. Do you think that these proposed measures will be enough to make an impact when it comes to reducing gun violence in our country? I think that these policies are a critical initial step to addressing gun violence now, now this package is not going to end gun violence on its own, but it will save lives. There are there are clearly provisions in this package that we know will have an impact. I will tell you that I am a survivor of gun violence. My parents were horrifically shot in In 2005. It's been 17 years since I've been able to hear my mom's laugh if I could do anything to go back and and and to prevent that trauma that me, my family, my community that we experienced and continue to experience it would make a world of difference to so many lives and and we do that every day in this country. So so this package is meaningful and we'll have a real impact christian. First. I want to say, I'm so sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing that. There are millions of americans out there who share that sentiment. So we really really do appreciate you sharing your story as soon as today, we know the U. S. Supreme Court could issue a ruling on a constitutional challenge to gun safety laws. What happens next? That is a great point and something that we were watching really carefully. I mean, we know and really that that case that bruin case where the Supreme Court is going to be evaluating what standard states can put in place to protect the public from who can and can't carry loaded weapons in public. It really highlights why we need Congress to act, why we need to do everything we can to raise the federal floor and and put laws in place that will protect the american people because we just can't rely on even states that are doing everything they can in their power to prevent gun violence to be able to do it alone. And and so that's what's at stake. That's why we're trying to press the sense of urgency and why we really can't wait another day to address gun violence, christian Hiney, vice president of policy at brady. And I want to say again, how much I appreciate your time and you're sharing your personal story. Thank you christian.