Biden signs gun control legislation following bipartisan compromise

President Joe Biden on Saturday signed a bipartisan gun control measure into law, marking a huge victory for Democrats. “God willing, this is gonna save a lot of lives,” Biden murmured after signing the law.

“This is a monumental day,” Biden said during a signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. “This is a time, when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential.”

The House gave final passage to the measure Friday in a 234-139 vote, following Senate passage Thursday with the support of 15 Republicans and all 50 Democrats.

“Today we say, ‘More than enough,’” Biden said. “It’s time, when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential.”

The legislation expands background checks to include juvenile records and incentivizes states to adopt “red flag” laws. It will also keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and will make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people deemed to be dangerous.

Most of its $13 billion cost will help bolster mental health programs and aid schools.

Biden said the compromise hammered out by a bipartisan group of senators from both parties “doesn’t do everything I want” but “it does include actions I’ve long called for that are going to save lives.”

“I know there’s much more work to do, and I’m never going to give up, but this is a monumental day,” said the president, who was joined by his wife, Jill, a teacher, for the signing.

Biden also announced that they will host an event on July 11 for those affected by gun violence. The president spoke of families “who lost their souls to an epidemic of gun violence. They lost their child, their husband, their wife. Nothing is going to fill that void in their hearts. But they led the way so other families will not have the experience and the pain and trauma that they had to live through.”

“Yesterday, I spoke about the Supreme Court’s shocking decision striking down Roe v. Wade,” Biden said. “Jill and I know how painful and devastating the decision is for so many Americans. I mean so many Americans.”

Noting that the ruling leaves the legality of abortion up to the states, Biden vowed to “focus on how they administer it and whether or not they violate other laws, like deciding to not allow people to cross state lines to get health services.”

Asked by a reporter whether he believes the Supreme Court was “broken,” Biden responded, “I think the Supreme Court has made some terrible decisions.”