Congress and the Supreme Court took big steps in opposite directions last week, in the country’s long standing debate on whether and how to regulate guns.

Congress passed the first major federal gun legislation in decades, with bipartisan support. President Biden signed it into law on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 opinion striking down a major gun control law in New York. The sweeping ruling puts many other gun regulations in states across the country, on shaky ground.

Daniel Webster, whose research focuses on policies intended to reduce gun violence, explains the real world impact he anticipates after these changes. Webster is Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

This episode features reporting from NPR’s Nina Totenberg.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.