WASHINGTON — A historic gun safety bill has been signed into law. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is designed to strengthen background checks, help states establish red flag laws and prevent domestic violence offenders from owning guns. It will also boost funding for mental health programs and aid at schools.
“This is the most significant moment I have seen in Washington, D.C., on this issue in the 4 years that we’ve been doing this work,” said gun violence survivor and Louisville resident, Whitney Austin.
Austin was shot 12 times on Sept. 6, 2018 while walking into work.
“I thought I was going to check in at work at Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati, Ohio and instead walking into a mass shooting.”
“Three other people died on that day. Somehow I survived,” Austin said.
She remembers it as the “clearest moment” of her life and said she realized then she wanted to help prevent similar situations. She created the nonprofit Whitney Strong . The nonprofit’s board consists of gun owners and non-gun owners and Republicans and Democrats, all working toward the common goal of preventing gun deaths.
Austin traveled from Louisville to Washington to advocate for the passage of the bipartisan gun safety legislation.
“I hope everyone out there who has lent their voice continues to lend their voice because in a way it got us to this moment,” Austin said.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act lived up to its name in the Senate. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, was one of 15 Republican Senators who supported the legislation. In the House, Kentucky’s only Democrat Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, advocated for the bill’s passage.
Austin met with both McConnell and Yarmuth during her trip to Washington.
“She’s an example of someone who has suffered a great trauma and is taking that to try and make lives better,” Yarmuth said.
Yarmuth said that although he’d like to see stricter gun safety legislation in the future. He’s happy to see “progress.”
“Any effective gun legislation we could pass would include what is in this bill,” Yarmuth said. “I think every element that’s in this bill is significant.”
This bill passed 234-193 in the House with 14 Republicans voting for it there.
“I am thrilled that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has become law! After nearly three decades of inaction on the issue of gun deaths, Congress sought common ground and found a way to solutions that will save thousands and thousands of lives,” Austin said in a statement after the bill was signed into law. “This legislation alone is not enough to end gun violence, so let us celebrate the victory and continue the work inside and outside of Washington necessary to reduce gun deaths.”