• Even as the Supreme Court significantly enlarged gun rights by deciding that Americans have a constitutional right to carry handguns in public 
• the Senate bill, which was approved by a vote of 65-33, is the first important piece of gun control legislation to pass in three decades.
• The modest plan, whose proponents claim will save lives, would enhance background checks for potential gun buyers 

Even as the Supreme Court significantly enlarged gun rights by deciding that Americans have a constitutional right to carry handguns in public for self-defence, a bipartisan package of modest gun safety regulations passed the U.S. Senate late on Thursday.

Weeks after mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, which claimed more than 30 lives, including 19 children, the landmark court decision and Senate action on gun safety highlight the country’s stark divisions over firearms.

With the highest per capita gun ownership in the world and the most mass shootings per year among wealthy countries, the Senate bill, which was approved by a vote of 65-33, is the first important piece of gun control legislation to pass in three decades.

“This is not a cure-all for the ways gun violence affects our nation, but it is a long overdue step in the right direction,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor ahead of the vote.

The modest plan, whose proponents claim will save lives, would enhance background checks for potential gun buyers who have been convicted of violent crimes against children or domestic abuse.

Democrats, including President Joe Biden, supported more comprehensive gun control measures, such as a ban on assault-style guns or high-capacity magazines, but Republicans refused to budge on these issues.

The restrictions on carrying concealed handguns outside the home in New York state were overturned by the Supreme Court’s previous decision on Thursday, which was supported by its conservative majority.

The law, passed in 1913, was ruled to violate the Second Amendment’s guarantee of the freedom to “keep and bear weapons” by the court. 15 Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in supporting the measure in the Senate’s late-night vote on Thursday.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Speaker, praised the bill’s passing and announced in a statement that it would move forward in the House on Friday and be put to a vote as soon as possible.

Despite the fact that Democrats now hold control of the chamber, House Republicans have encouraged their members to vote against the measure.

Biden will sign the legislation into law after the House passes it.

After a passionate address by Biden in which he proclaimed “enough” gun carnage and implored lawmakers to take action, the Senate finally took action a few weeks later.

According to polls, the majority of Americans favour new gun control measures, which are frequently demanded in the wake of tragic mass shootings like those that took place in Texas and New York.

Democrats cautioned that the Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday might have catastrophic effects for national gun safety.

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