What is Joe Biden’s new gun safety bill?

PRESIDENT Joe Biden signed a new gun safety bill on July 11, 2022, one week after the Fourth of July Highland Park shooting.

The bill is the first gun safety legislation to be passed by Congress in 30 years.

What is the new gun safety bill?

The gun safety bill was passed by the House in a  234-193 vote to require states to pass red flag laws that would remove weapons from those who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.

The bill also closes the so-called boyfriend loophole, which prevents partners with a history of domestic abuse from obtaining guns.

As he finished signing the bill, President Joe Biden said: "God willing, it's going to save a lot of lives."

The National Rifle Association says it opposes the bill.

In a statement on June 21, it said: "This legislation can be abused to restrict lawful gun purchases, infringe upon the rights of law-abiding Americans, and use federal dollars to fund gun control measures being adopted by state and local politicians."

The bill received support from 14 Republicans who voted with Democrats to approve the bill.

Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) led the negotiations in the Senate and ahead of the House's ruling, he said: "It doesn't do everything I want.

"But what we are doing will save thousands of lives without violating anyone's Second Amendment rights."

Does the gun safety bill do enough?

Advocates for increased gun restrictions say the gun safety bill doesn't do enough.

The father of a Parkland shooting victim interrupted Biden's speech after passing the bill to say he had been telling them to increase restrictions since his son was killed in 2018.

Manuel Oliver shouted: "We have to do more than that," before being escorted out of the White House.

Oliver's son was killed when a shooter entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 14 students and three staff members.