Washington, D.C. (WBEN) - U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand unveiled on Tuesday her original report analyzing initial successes from the "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (BSCA)’s anti-gun trafficking section and mental health funding distribution.
As part of Gillibrand’s first-of-its-kind report, it found that more than 1,300 illegal guns have been seized by law enforcement, and more than 200 defendants have been charged under BSCA’s new gun trafficking statute. The analysis shows that at least 190 of the seized guns were AR-15s or AR-style weapons, and authorities also seized at least 151 ghost guns.
The data also revealed that over $750 million has been distributed to finance mental and behavioral health services nationwide, which will also support the hiring of over 14,000 new mental health professionals in schools.
Sen. Gillibrand’s Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act formed the centerpiece of BSCA’s anti-gun trafficking provision. She first introduced the bill in 2009 after meeting with the family of Nyasia Pryear-Yard, who tragically lost her life at 17-years-old when she was shot by a perpetrator using an illegally trafficked gun.
Gillibrand worked with Nyasia’s mother, Jennifer Pryear, to pass the bill into law and they attended the bill signing together last year.
"After more than a decade of sustained advocacy, the centerpiece of my anti-gun trafficking bill was included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and this original report shows that the law is already taking guns off the streets and putting criminals behind bars," said Sen. Gillibrand on Tuesday. "After less than a year and half with the new anti-gun trafficking statute, more than 1,300 illegal guns have been seized and more than 200 defendants have been charged. Additionally, more than $750 million has been distributed to support mental health services, which will also support the hiring of over 14,000 new mental health professionals in schools. Making gun trafficking a federal crimes was long overdue— BSCA is proof that Democrats are working hard to keep our communities safe, and that when Congress works together, we can make a difference on gun violence."
You can read the full report here: