Gun control bill passed in The House
The House Wednesday passed a bill that, if enacted into law, would improve state reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in order to stop gun purchase by people who are not allowed to possess firearms.
This bill, which was passed on a voice vote, could become the first major federal gun control bill passed since 1994. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., and Rep Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y. drafted the bill with the help of the National Rifle Association.
The legislation comes in response to the Virginia Tech attack in April. Va. Tech student Seung Hui-Cho killed himself and 32 others. He had been ordered to undergo mental treatment and should not have been allowed to buy the two guns he used for the shooting, however his records were never passed on to the background check system.
Currently, legislation states that anyone found to be mentally defective cannot possess a gun. The legislation also prohibits felons, fugitives, drug addicts and wife beaters from purchasing firearms.
According to Reuters, certain laws and restraints have deterred states from fully reporting these records to the NICS.
Both Reuters and USA Today reported on the number of states currently providing mental records to the NICS. Reuters reported that number to be 23 states while USA Today, who attributed their information to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, reported that number to be 22.
The new bill would improve these numbers by requiring states to share disqualifying records with the NICS database. It also provides $250 million in funding to help states meet goals outlined in the bill and imposes penalties for states failing to meet these goals.
In order for the bill to be enacted into law, the Senate must approve it. USA Today reported that Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the chances of Senate passing the bill were "very strong."
The bill can be viewed here.
The two different news stories both reported essentially the same basic information on the new bill, however USA Today was more thorough with quotations from senators and legislators as well as background information to help the reader understand the story. Reuters' story was more basic but still covered the important details of the story and got the point across effectively.