Arms control groups are now focusing all their efforts on pressure in the Senate following the passage in the House of two major bills last week that garnered some Republican Party support.
Leader of the Senate majority Charles Schumer
Chuck Schumer’s biographer: “Predatory behavior” has been “evident for years” Lawmakers call for action on the first anniversary of Breonna Taylor Schumer’s death, Gillibrand calls on Cuomo to resign MORE (DN.Y.) promises swift action on legislation (to bolster background checks and close the so-called Charleston Lagoon), but advocates face a family upward battle in trying to win enough Republicans.
Still, advocates are optimistic that a Democratic-led Senate, combined with an ally in the Oval Office and a weakened National Rifle Association (NRA), will help pass gun control legislation for the first time in decades. .
“We have a meager majority of gun violence prevention, but we have the majority, which we know includes eight Republicans,” said Brian Lemek, executive director of Brady PAC.
Last week, eight Republican lawmakers voted for background check legislation that would require unlicensed private sellers to conduct a check before transferring a firearm.
Schumer promised Thursday to bring the bill, known as HR 8, to the Senate floor, though he did not specify the timetable.
“The legislative cemetery is over,” he told reporters. “HR 8 will be on the Senate floor and we’ll see where everyone is.”
The Senate is expected to pass the two bills passed by the House individually. The background check measure received the most support from Republicans in the House.
The other measure would extend the time federal investigators have to do background checks from three to 10 days. Two House Republicans voted for it.
Each bill would need 60 votes to get to the Senate, meaning ten Republicans would have to cross the aisle to overcome a legislative hurdle.
Some Senate Democrats say they are already in talks with Republicans.
“I’m talking to senators across the aisle, but the authors of differences in this debate are the survivors, students and relatives who have turned this number into a movement,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Told A The Hill on his plan for Republican support.
“The most powerful advocates of change are people who have personal stories to share about how a background check could have saved someone they love, to which my fellow Republicans must respond,” he added.
The weak state of the ANR also adds optimism to gun control advocates.
The previously powerful gun pressure group filed for bankruptcy and announced in January that it would rejoin Texas and leave New York. He also faces a civil lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiBiden administration sends FEMA to the border amid influx of migrant children Five things to happen to vaccinate people in the White House face a challenge to overcome the hesitation of the GOP vaccine Friday said President Biden
Joe BidenPompeo: Reintroducing an agreement with Iran will make the “less secure” DNC in the Middle East set in motion to push Biden’s struggle to unravel Trump’s immigration rules network MORE “Of course, we will talk to leaders and members of Congress about how to move forward with gun security measures,” he adds, which is a priority.
A day earlier, Psaki said Biden is “personally committed” to tackling gun violence when asked if he believes the Senate can pass the two bills.
“I hope he will look for opportunities to participate and defend why they are not political issues; it is a common effort to protect our children, protect our country and, as you know, make sure we reduce gun violence. in the country, ”he said.
Defense groups such as Everytown, March for Our Lives, Brady, Moms Demand Action and Sandy Hook Promise say they are encouraged by Biden’s commitment to tackling gun control.
Director of the White House Public Participation Office Cedric Richmond
Cedric RichmondPadilla has “a great Chuck Taylors to fill” replacing Harris Bottom line Biden promises gun action amid resistance MORE Last week he told advocates that the administration wants the two bills to hit the Biden counter.
“HR 8 is important to us, the Charleston gap is important to us. We look forward to signing it, we look forward to getting involved to make sure we can sign it, ”he said.
The shooter at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, a self-described white supremacist who killed nine black parishioners, was able to legally buy a firearm despite an arrest in his history, which did not appeared on his background check. during the three-day waiting period.
Advocates held a virtual march on Thursday in hopes of boosting legislation passed by the House in the Senate. Sen. Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott Murphy Sunday shows preview: Democrats declare victory in COVID-19 stimulus; Vaccination efforts provide hope for summer Schumer promises swift action in the Senate over House gun reforms. Democrats are about to push for the elimination of the MORE filibuster (D-Conn.), Qui author the Senate version of HR 8, moderated the event.
“Now the job is to bring this bill to the Senate and do it. [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP attacked Biden relief bill The Pentagon takes heat to extend guard time at scattered points in the Capitol to raise funds for Trump-GOP cracks MORE [R-Ky.] it would not bring any anti-armed legislation to the Senate in the last five years, ”Murphy said.
The Democratic-led House previously approved the Charleston background check and bills in February 2019, but never received any votes in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Years earlier, in 2013, the Senate passed bipartisan antitrust legislation sponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin: Why Republicans Couldn’t Kill Biden’s Relief Bill Sunday shows preview: Democrats declare victory in COVID-19 stimulus; Vaccination efforts give hope for summer Hill’s report 12:30 – Presented by Johns Hopkins University – Biden sets an optimistic tone for summer MORE (DW.Va.) i Pat Toomey
Patrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeySasse reprimanded Nebraska Republican Party for dismissal vote GOP Commissioner Philly on censorship: “I would suggest censoring Republican elected officials who lie” Toomey censured by several Pennsylvania County GOP committees for voting dismissal (R-Pa.), A few months later the 2012 shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Murphy’s home state.
But the measure was reduced to a few votes from the 60-vote threshold needed to move forward.
If the House-approved version hits the Senate floor, it can lose at least one Republican it previously supported.
Toomey’s office last week said that while it still supports the provisions of the 2013 measure, the recently approved by the House the legislation is not oriented enough to win your vote.