What happens after the next one
Democrats helped pass the first major federal gun-safety law in decades and want universal background checks. Most Republicans voted against the law; their 2024 platform offers no comparable proposal.
01 / Democrats
The platform calls for universal background checks and reinstating the federal assault weapons ban.
Key number
Under 21
buyers covered by the expanded background-check process
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funds state red-flag laws, expands background checks for buyers under 21, and narrows the so-called boyfriend loophole.
02 / Republicans
The 2024 Republican platform promises to defend the right to keep and bear arms but does not propose universal background checks or an assault-weapons ban.
Most Republicans in both chambers voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, though enough crossed over to break the filibuster.
The receipts
Dark is yea, grey is nay. Each card names who drove the action and how the other party responded. Every one links to the official record.
Jun 25, 2022 · S. 2938
Bipartisan passageRed-flag law funding, enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, and the boyfriend loophole.
A Democratic-led Congress passed it with Republican votes in both chambers.
Final vote
Signed into law - the first major federal gun safety law since 1994, and genuinely bipartisan.
Read the record ↗