Bipartisan Federal Gun Safety Bill signed into law; What impact could it have?

DAYTON — President Joe Biden signed a Bipartisan Federal Gun Safety Bill into law today.

“Time is of the essence,” Biden said. “Lives will be saved.”

This comes a month after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Some are skeptical about the impact the law will actually have.

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“I don’t expect any massive change to the problem that we have in our society with gun violence,” Tom Hagel, University of Dayton law professor said.

The law aims to keep guns from more domestic violence offenders, help states pass red flag laws and tougher background checks for the youngest gun buyers.

“There is far too much focus in my opinion on firearms as an issue instead of on what are the root causes of all this increase in violence,” Mark Avery, senior firearms instructor said.

Avery said he wants to see an overall improvement in the background check system, but also believes there should be more of a focus on mental health issues.

“Anytime you have federal legislation talking about restricting the way law-abiding citizens can use their firearms I have a problem with that from a philosophical standpoint,” Avery said.

Meanwhile, Hagel said the measures in the law are good, but he wants to see the minimum age to buy a gun raised to 21.

“So often if you look at the people who have committed these outrageous acts so many of them bought their firearms when they were young certainly below 21 years old,” Hagel said.

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But while he thinks this law is a step, he doesn’t think it’s a major one.

“I think the problem with gun violence in our society is so much more complex than what quite frankly can be dealt with the legal system,” he said.

The law also includes millions of dollars for school safety and mental health and crisis intervention programs.

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