Gun Reform: A Comparison of House and Senate Proposals

Last updated June 16, 2022

Author:

Chenelle Hammonds, Policy Associate (chenelle@progressivecaucuscenter.org)

Introduction

The United States is an outlier compared to other advanced democracies when it comes to gun violence and mass shootings. The massive number of guns available in the U.S., along with loose national gun regulations, poses a significant danger to communities, families, and children. Civilians in the U.S. own an estimated 393 million firearms, nearly 46% of the total number of civilian-held firearms in the world, despite the U.S. population representing just 4% of the world population. This amounts to roughly 61 million more guns in the United States than there are people. This high rate of gun ownership is a contributor to gun violence in the United States. Tragically, firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in America.

Following a series of mass shootings—including one in Buffalo, New York that killed 10 people and one at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 children and two teachers—there is renewed interest in Congress to enact meaningful reforms to address gun violence. 

In early June 2022, the House passed a series of bills implementing new safety measures to curb gun violence. In the Senate, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is currently discussing a legislative framework intended to tackle gun violence and garner enough bipartisan support to withstand the Senate filibuster (60 votes). At the time of publication, legislative text for the Senate proposal has not been released. Gun reform efforts in Congress have the support of President Joe Biden, who has called for expansions on background checks, raising the age limit to purchase semi-automatic rifles, red flag laws, and reinstatement of the expired assault weapons ban.

Read our explainer below for more: