Politics

Senate Votes To Block Obama's Gun Control Rule

The Senate passed what's known as a "resolution of disapproval" by a vote of 57-43.

Senate Votes To Block Obama's Gun Control Rule
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An Obama-era rule on gun background checks is one step away from being overturned.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted 57-43 to block the regulation from going into effect. The government was supposed to start enforcing the rule this December.

At the end of his term, President Obama mandated the Social Security Administration hand the FBI info on any person with a "documented mental health issue" who can't manage their disability benefits without a representative.

That affects around 75,000 people. Supporters argued the rule kept some with serious mental health issues from buying guns.

But opponents argued the rule was too broad and overestimated the risk to the public.

What The House Vote On Mental Illness And Gun Background Checks Means

What The House Vote On Mental Illness And Gun Background Checks Means

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To be clear, studies have found having a mental illness doesn't increase a person's chances of using a gun violently, and only slightly increases the risk of a gun-related suicide.

Republicans argued Obama's rule unfairly discriminated against certain people's Second Amendment rights.

President Donald Trump still has to sign off before Obama's rule can be officially repealed.