april 2023: reducing gun violence

Democrats have filed numerous gun safety bills this session, including for background checks, red flag laws, banning bump stocks and safe storage.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly repealed the pistol permit law, eliminating background checks for private gun sales.

In March, President Biden signed an executive order to strengthen background checks before firearms sales and again asked Congress to ban assault weapons.

Last year, the Democratic-controlled Congress passed the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which provides additional funding to the mental health system, school safety programs, and gun safety laws

In March, Republicans in Congress said they object to any measures that would restrict access to guns. 

65% of voters say passing additional restrictions on gun ownership should be a top or important priority for Congress. 

89% of voters support expanded background checks for gun sales (including 88% of Republicans). 

81% of voters support a mandatory three-day waiting period for gun sales (including 76% of Republicans).

79% of voters support raising the age for gun purchases to 21 (including72% of Republicans). 

69% of voters support banning high-capacity magazines (including 51% of Republicans).

Gun control at the federal level provides a baseline of who can/can't have gun access, but states are able to enact tighter restrictions.  Blue states that have made such moves, such as implementing longer wait periods, red flag laws, or prohibitions on automatic weapons include Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington. Push back in red states also abounds.