Democrats split on the gun control strategy

Leader of the Senate majority Charles SchumerChuck Schumer: Night Health Care: Senate Confirms Levine by HHS, First Openly Transgender Official | Progressives increase pressure on Biden to support waiver of COVID vaccine patent | The former head of Operation Warp Speed ​​was fired for allegations of sexual harassment. The Mississippi GOP senator says it is wrong to vote Sunday for religious reasons. The Senate confirms the first open transgender official, approving Levine for HHS MORE (DN.Y.) needs to unify its caucus on gun control legislation, a Democratic priority, but it already faces several issues.

Centrist Sen. Joe ManchinJoe Manchin: The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden leans heavily on gun control. Dems plans to squeeze GOP on Biden Allies filibuster observing two-step strategy of infrastructure MORE (DW.Va.) says a background check bill passed by the House goes too far while other colleagues, such as Sens. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel Feinstein: California public radio news director loses father when shooting in Boulder. Feinstein calls for a ban on assaulting weapons after Boulder shot Cruz, accusing Democrats of portraying “ridiculous theater” in proposals after mass shootings. MONTH (D-California) i Ben CardinBenjamin (Ben) Louis CardinCotton: Democrat infrastructure bill will focus on higher taxes, business groups “Green New Deal” seek PPP extension as March deadline approaches Sanders indicates he hopes to use the reconciliation for MORE infrastructure (D-Md.), They are pushing for a ban on assault weapons and restrictions on high-capacity magazines, controversial proposals that would be difficult to support moderates.

Any arms control measure would need to pass ten Republican votes, another serious hurdle to getting something done.

Weapons control legislation would not be eligible for the special budget route known as reconciliation and would therefore need 60 votes to overcome an obstacle. Democrats control only 50 seats and don’t even have the security to keep their entire group unified.

Even after two mass shootings in Boulder and Atlanta, there is strong resistance among Republican senators to expanding background verification requirements for the sale and transfer of weapons.

Republicans as Sen. John CornynJohn CornynOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to Obama’s Marine Monument Designation | Interior reverses course on tribal ownership of Missouri River portion White House climate adviser meets with oil and gas companies GOP Senate returns to list of oil and gas lease forum participants Sinema and Cornyn urge Biden to use “full authorities” on the MORE border (Texas) say they are willing to demand background checks for all arms trade transactions, but that is far below what most Democrats want to do.

Democrats say Republican calls to limit the background to “commercial” sales will expose too many transactions.

Manchin said Tuesday he does not support a House-approved bill to expand the background to include all people who would buy or transfer firearms. He wants an exemption for transfers between friends and family.

His. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterSenate panel disagrees on climate regulators’ climate agenda Fight against filibusters comes as Biden leans on Democratic senators to ask CDC to increase accessibility to vaccine programming for seniors MORE (D-Mont.) Wednesday said he is also concerned about the requirement of the House bill on the history of transfers or sales between family members.

Manchin says he will resume negotiations with the senator. Pat ToomeyPatrick (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 censored by several Pennsylvania County GOP committees for voting dismissal MORE (R-Pa.) In its joint proposal presented in 2013 that would require background checks on weapons sold over the Internet or at gun shows, but that exempt sales and transfers between friends and family.

An emerging concern for Democrats is that Manchin says he wants to focus on commercial sales.

Manchin said Wednesday that “it has already happened” to implement what he called “common sense” reform.

“I think background check is the most reasonable approach,” he said. “I’ve always said that.”

Manchin said he will speak with his former partner, Toomey, and the senator. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDems plans to squeeze GOP on filibuster New shooting immerses Biden and Congress in a gun control debate. Biden faces pressure to end the media shutdown of border facilities (D-Conn.), A leading advocate of stricter gun control laws.

Several other Republican senators have expressed willingness to consider expanding funding verification requirements, including Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret Collins: The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden leans heavily on gun control. Congress wonders how to pay for Biden’s infrastructure proposal, confirmed by Vivek Murthy as general surgeon MORE (R-Maine), Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt Romney: Vivek Murthy, confirmed as general surgeon of the press: What Biden could have taught Obama Trump increases activities, claims power within GOP MORE (R-Utah), Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones Portman: Trump allies get ahead of potentially bruising primaries Vivek Murthy confirmed that Surgeon General Biden is bringing sales to Ohio State, the swing state MORE (R-Ohio), Todd YoungTodd Christopher Young: House Bipartisan Bill to Revoke War Permits from Decades Earlier in House Committee to Withdraw 2002 War Authorization in “Upcoming Weeks” in Senate Senate Award for Film “Hoosiers” MONTH (R-Ind.).

“I have long advocated the Manchin-Toomey proposal, without violating the rights of law-abiding Americans, to change and close some of the gaps in background checks so that they apply to online sales.” , said Collins. reporters Monday.

But the Maine moderate did not seem enthusiastic about the House-approved bill.

“I understand it’s very, very broad,” he said.

Schumer says he will not now choose what the Senate should do, but will meet with colleagues, including Murphy, to chart a path forward.

“We have to figure out the best way to get the most out of it,” he said. “I will not choose which of them. The background check bill passed the House, passed it in an overwhelming way. The support of 90% of Americans and 80% of gun owners.

“That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t look at other things as well,” he said.

The House’s background check bill went from 227 to 203.

Murphy said Wednesday that expanding the background will be the starting point for negotiations.

“Background checking has the advantage of being the most popular and politically practical from a policy standpoint, so I think it makes sense to start by correcting the background check system and that involves expanding. [it], “He said.

But he expressed concern about limiting background checks to business transactions and said he wants to go beyond the 2013 Manchin-Toomey amendment, which exempted sales and transfers between family and friends.

“It’s hard to define what a commercial sale is,” Murphy said. “If it’s sold to a stranger, but that didn’t happen online or at a gun show, is it a commercial sale?”

He said a better option would be to create “a very clear size of family members.”

He noted that Manchin and Toomey negotiated with the National Rifle Association as they drafted their reduced proposal to expand the background nearly eight years ago in the hope that the gun owners’ rights group would respond to the amendment, which he never did.

The NRA eventually opposed Manchin-Toomey, although it was able to make several key changes to it.

“A lot of things have happened since then,” Murphy said. “Since then, we’ve made other improvements to the background check system that make Manchin-Toomey quite irrelevant.”

There are also divisions within the Democratic caucus over broader proposals, such as the Feinstein-favored assault-style arms ban.

The California senator senator said during the Judicial Committee hearing on the Boulder mass shootings that she wants the committee to consider her legislation.

“I really hope we can do something about it. I have 35 co-sponsors of the renewed assault weapons ban found on this committee. And I hope we can hold a hearing and maybe consider that legislation, “she told the president Dick DurbinDick Durbin: The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden leans heavily in gun control. Dems plans to squeeze GOP on filibuster New shooting submerges Biden and Congress in arms control debate MORE (D-Ill.).

But putting a ban on assault weapons on the floor would be a hard vote for moderate Democrats from Republican-leaning and swing-leaning states.

“I’m not crazy about that,” said Tester, who represents a state that was president Donald TrumpDonald Trump: The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden commissions Harris to the border; Today’s press conference Democrats face questions over agenda Democrats are divided on gun control strategy MORE led by 16 points in November.

The Great Falls Tribune reported in 2018 that Montana was the second most dependent state in the firearms industry, with more than 30 jobs in the firearms industry per 10,000 residents.

Tester objected to the lack of an exemption for family members on the fund verification bill approved by the House.

“I did not really look at him. It traditionally supports background checks. I don’t think this bill has it [an exemption for] passing it on to your children. That’s a problem, ”he said.

Other Democrats want votes on bills banning assault-style gun magazines and high-capacity ammunition magazines even though those proposals have little chance of being approved by the Senate.

“I would be in favor of considering a couple of votes on the floor, at least I would. Because you have to make some of these problems more obvious to people, ”said the senator. Bob CaseyRobert (Bob) Patrick Casey Senate Democrats ask DHS for detailed information on response to Portland protests Dems push hits infrastructure plans plan Republicans see Calf as the next target of confirmation wars MORE (D-Pa.), Which supports the ban on assault weapons.

“The last time we had a real debate and we voted on arms policy was at this point in about 2013. That’s eight years. We’re behind,” he said. “I think it’s important to have the vote.” .