Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 117–159)

2) Why It Was Done
Passed in the wake of mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, and Uvalde, TX, the Act was designed to enhance background checks, fund mental health and school safety programs, and support state “red flag” laws.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (1993) created federal gun background check systems. This Act updated and expanded those frameworks without creating sweeping new bans.

4) Overreach or Proper Role?
Supporters see it as a reasonable bipartisan compromise to address gun violence. Critics argue it infringes on Second Amendment rights and could open the door to broader restrictions.

5) Who or What It Controls

• Firearms purchasers under 21 (enhanced background checks)
• Straw purchasers and traffickers (new federal crimes)
• States (receive funding to implement red flag laws and mental health programs)
• Schools (gain funding for safety and mental health services)

6) Key Sections / Citations

• Enhanced NICS background checks for buyers under 21
• Created federal penalties for straw purchasing and trafficking
• Funding for school safety and mental health services
• Incentives for state red flag laws

7) Recent Changes or Live Controversies

• First major federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years
• Ongoing debates about effectiveness of red flag laws and mental health funding
• Litigation and political battles over how states implement provisions

8) Official Sources

• Congress.gov – Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
• White House – Safer Communities Fact Sheet
• Department of Justice – Implementation Guidance

• Gun Control
• Public Safety
• Mental Health
• School Safety
• Firearms