House votes 224-204 for red flag law to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill and criminals

The House of Representatives voted 224-204 along mostly party lines to pass a so-called red flag law that empowers law enforcement to seize guns from the mentally ill and criminals.

Thursday’s vote came a day after wrenching testimony from survivors and parents of the children slain in the Uvalde, Texas school massacre, as well as a demand for action by New York City Mayor Adams.

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Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) lost her teenage son to gun violence a decade ago. Now she’s pleading to the nation to prevent more moms from walking in her shoes.

The anti-gun violence activist spoke out Thursday in favor of her own so-called “red flag law” bill that allows law enforcement to confiscate guns from people with documented mental health woes or criminal histories.

“We vote to save lives. We vote to do what is right,” McBath said. “We vote to stop this uniquely American horror that’s ripping our families apart.”

Wooden crosses are placed at a memorial dedicated to the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on June 3, 2022. (Alex Wong/)

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, echoed McBath’s pleas for action.

“All too often the warning signs were clear, and nothing was done to keep guns out of their hands before it was too late,” Nadler said.

“(It) provides a sensible means by which someone who’s exhibiting dangerous behavior can be prevented from possessing or purchasing a firearms before tragedy strikes,” the powerful Manhattan Democrat added.

Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) speaks during the Moms Demand Action Gun Violence Rally in Washington, D.C. on June 8, 2022. (Nathan Howard/)

Even after the bloodshed, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the measure an unacceptable infringement on people’s right to carry guns, no matter what their mental state or criminal history is.

“It would allow the courts to take guns away from people without notice and without even the right to appear in the hearing to defend themselves in court,” said Johnson, R-La.

The law is one of a package of Democratic measures that the House has passed to crack down on guns after recent massacres in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas.

But the bills are doomed to failure in the Senate, where Republicans hold effective veto power.

A separate set of talks are underway in the upper chamber on a much weaker package that might be able to win enough GOP votes to overcome a certain filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the talks are making progress, but said no agreement is expected till next week at the earliest.

“The group is making good progress, and they hope to get something real done very soon,” Schumer said. “As soon as the bipartisan group comes to agreement, I want to bring a measure to the floor for a vote as quickly as possible.”