By Mary O’KEEFE

To say these past few years have been politically and emotionally turbulent is an understatement. There have always been disagreements on Capitol Hill but, by a majority of reports, there has never been so much vitriol toward those who are serving their country as elected officials.

Recently Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican representing the 16^th District in Illinois, released a compilation of recent calls from people who have threatened him and his family. One, in the name of God, wished the “wrath of God” to come down on him and his family and then added, also in the name of God, s/he hoped he would suffer. The calls included graphic language and threats against him, his wife, his mom and his child. Yet in the midst of all of these threats many elected officials, regardless of what side of the aisle they sit on, continue to do their job.

On June 23, President Joe Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The term “bipartisan” has not been used often in recent years but, in this case, the House passed the bill with 14 Republicans joining Democrats and in the Senate 15 Republicans also joined.

“There was a group in the Senate that has been working [on a gun law] for some time,” Rep. Adam Schiff said.

But it took a tragedy to push the bill to an agreement after an 18-year-old man murdered 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Schiff added this was a very modest gun law and thinks more legislation is needed to address the increasing gun violence in the U.S. Sixty-four people died by gunfire throughout the country on July 4 alone. This does not include the numerous people who were injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

As of July 5, there have been 319 mass shootings in the U.S. since the beginning of the year. The GVA describes mass shootings as an incident that has a minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including any shooter who may also have been killed or injured in the incident.

Schiff spoke of other countries that have dealt with gun violence.

“They were able to decrease the frequency of attacks; there’s no reason why we shouldn’t do the same in the United States,” he said. “We shouldn’t wait for another tragedy.”

(Note: The CVW interview with Rep. Schiff was days prior to the mass shooting that occurred during at a July 4^th parade in Highland Park, Illinois.)

The new bipartisan law addresses points that have been debated for years including incentives for states to pass red flag laws. The new bipartisan law allows groups to petition courts to remove weapons from people who are deemed a threat to themselves or others. It also expands the existing law that currently prevents people convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun to include dating partners – not just spouses and former spouses – known as the boyfriend [or girlfriend] loophole. It also requires people between the ages of 18 and 21 to undergo enhanced background checks, as well as other provisions, including investing in mental health and school safety resources.

The bipartisanship in this case worked against the National Rifle Association [NRA], which was against the law. The organization’s power is still evident.

“Look at Rep. Chris Jacobs from Buffalo, New York – a Republican who, after the deadly shooting in Buffalo, said he couldn’t stand by on the sidelines anymore,” Schiff said.

On June 1, Jacobs announced he would not be running for another term in Congress and face an “incredibly divisive election,” according to reports.

Jacobs, who represents the area where the mass shooting occurred at a Buffalo supermarket, voiced support for a federal ban on assault weapons. Members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, continue to work together to curb gun violence and all that it entails including mental health issues.

Next week Rep. Schiff discusses the Jan. 6 Committee.