Agence France-Presse reported that the nation's lawmakers have finally made steps in response for stricter gun control laws in the US. As its response to a series of recent mass shootings, particularly the deaths of six college students in a fatal drive-by shooting at an Isla Vista community near the University of California Santa Barbara.
The amendment that was passed as part of a $51 billion spending bill for the Commerce and Justice Departments, will have the funding of the national background check system for firearm sales increased.
The bill's sponsors, led by House Democrat Mike Thompson, said in a statement following the 260-145 vote, "Our national criminal background check system is only as good as the data you put in it, and right now all the information isn't getting into the system. When this happens, we can't enforce the law, and criminals, domestic abusers, or dangerously mentally ill individuals who otherwise wouldn't pass a background check can slip through the cracks and buy guns."
According to police, community college student Elliot Rodger was able to purchase guns used in the shooting legally, despite the fact that he has been receiving psychological therapy for years. AFP pointed out that the holes in the background checks system had also allowed a 23 year-old Virginia Tech student to buy guns and used them to shoot and kill 32 people. Two years ago, it was also noted that authorities had not reported a judge's ruling that deemed a man mentally ill at the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Following the vote by the House on the measure, it will now have to pass the Senate in order to be signed by President Barack Obama. The measure will reportedly increase the NICS funding to $78 million for fiscal year 2015.
