Gun bans now cover abusive dating partners, and buyers under 21 get deeper checks

Federal law already barred guns for people convicted of abusing a spouse, co-parent, or someone they lived with as a spouse. It did not cover an abuser whose only qualifying relationship with the victim was dating. This law added current and recent former dating partners for convictions entered on or after June 25, 2022. After one such conviction, the ban lasts until at least five years after the later of conviction or the end of custody or supervision, provided there is no later disqualifying conviction. The five-year restoration rule does not apply after a second qualifying conviction.

For a purchase from a licensed dealer by someone under 21, the background check now looks for disqualifying juvenile criminal and mental-health adjudication records. A sale can be held for up to 10 business days if more investigation is needed. By January 2024, the deeper checks had denied more than 500 illegal purchases. The law also provided $1 billion for two school mental-health grant programs. The Education Department tried to discontinue more than 200 grants in 2025, but a court permanently blocked that process. After the department announced a new termination plan, states sued again in July 2026. The court issued a preliminary injunction on September 22, keeping the protected grants in place while the case continues.

The law came after the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. Sens. Chris Murphy, John Cornyn, Kyrsten Sinema, and Thom Tillis negotiated it. The dating-partner provision grew from legislation championed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Reps. Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick. It passed with votes from 15 Senate Republicans and 14 House Republicans, and President Joe Biden signed it on June 25, 2022.