Washington, June 9 (UNI) The US House of Representatives passed the gun bill in an effort to regulate the sale of guns, which is however, destined to fail in the Senate, BBC reported on Thursday.
According to the new measures sales of semiautomatic weapons to people under 21 will be prohibited along with a ban on large-capacity magazines.
But Republicans who control the Senate and are vehemently opposed to any measure that aims to control the sale of guns means there is little chance the bill will ever become law, despite a renewed focus on gun control in the wake of a series of mass shootings in the US in recent times, including a primary school in Texas leading to multiple deaths.
In the House of Representatives, the wide-ranging package of legislation, called the “Protecting Our Kids Act” by lawmakers, passed by 223-204 votes with just five Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the bill.
In addition to tighter controls around the sale of guns, it would also introduce a scheme allowing local government to compensate individuals who surrender high capacity magazine and strengthen existing regulations on bump stocks and untraceable ghost guns.
However the measures cannot pass into law without approval in the Senate.
Hours before the vote, survivors of the Uvalde school shooting gave an emotional testimony to lawmakers which reduced some to tears.
The primary school shooting in the Texan city claimed the lives of 21 people, including 19 young children.
While a group of Republican and Democratic senators are trying to find common ground, correspondents say that whatever they come up with is very unlikely to involve any sweeping reforms.
Bipartisan negotiations are ongoing in the Senate on more moderate measures that could gain the support of enough Republicans to pass the 60-vote threshold required in the chamber.
But one senior Republican, Texas Senator John Cornyn, warned on Wednesday that there are “sticking points everywhere”.
Only a handful of the 50 Republican senators appear open to new gun legislation, with Democrats seeking narrower measures as a compromise. Senators are expected to reach a final agreement by the end of the week.
