The first gun control bill in a decade is expected to pass the House today after the Senate approved it Thursday night.
This only happened because 15 Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, ignored former President Donald Trump’s demand they vote against it.
Though falling short of what the Democrats (and much of America) wanted, the measure does include millions of dollars for mental health, school safety, crisis intervention programs and incentives for states to bolster juvenile records systems.
As well, it closes the so-called boyfriend loophole also makes significant changes to the process for people ages 18 to 21 to buy a firearm.
However, the bill does not include an assault weapons ban which was a key part of what Dems asked for.
Rep. Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, commended the Republican who voted for the package and joked ‘I don’t think I could agree with Senator Mitch McConnell on where to go to have lunch.’
In his emotional speech on the House floor, McGovern pleaded:
‘I know I’m asking you to vote against your party’s leadership. I know that’s a tough spot to put some of my Republican friends in. But I think at the end of the day, you owe yourself to consider this one idea: what is this bill stops even one mass shooting from happening?’ McGovern said.