Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Gun Reform Bill Advances In 65-34 Senate Vote

Gun Reform Bill Advances In 65-34 Senate Vote
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The bipartisan legislation aiming to reduce the number of mass shootings in the U.S. Senate advanced past a key procedural hurdle Thursday, as the Senate voted to close debate and move toward a final vote.  The bill combines modest new firearms restrictions with $15 billion in mental health and school security funding.

From the Washington Post:

The 65-34 vote represented an unlikely breakthrough on the emotional and polarizing question of U.S. gun laws, which have gone largely unchanged for more than 25 years, even as the nation has been repeatedly scarred by mass shootings whose names have become etched in history — from Columbine and Virginia Tech to Sandy Hook and Parkland.

The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board endorsed the legislation Thursday, as did the National Sheriffs’ Association, which has close ties to GOP leaders.

Nonpartisan groups including the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the American Psychological Association also endorsed the bill.

All Democrats in the Senate and 15 Republicans (including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell) voted in favor of the bill.

Related: 4 Measures That Could Have Made A Difference In Mass Shootings

While those who have fought for gun reforms for many years say this legislation doesn’t go far enough, my opinion is: it’s at least SOMETHING. And it’s the first meaningful gun reforms in nearly 30 years.

Final passage in the Senate could happen later today or Friday.

Read more at the Washington Post.