Arms control groups focus all efforts on the Senate

Arms control groups are now focusing all of their lobbying efforts in the Senate, following the approval of two major bills last week, which garnered some support from the Republican Party.

Senate majority leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerCuomo biographer: ‘Predatory behavior’ has been ‘evident for years’ Lawmakers call for action on the first anniversary of Breonna Taylor Schumer’s death, Gillibrand ask Cuomo to step down MORE (DN.Y.) is promising swift action on legislation – to strengthen background checks and to close the so-called Charleston breach – but advocates face an uphill battle to try to win enough Republicans.

Still, proponents 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 small majority in the prevention of armed violence, but we have the majority, which we know includes eight Republicans,” said Brian Lemek, executive director of Brady PAC.

Eight Republican Party lawmakers voted last week in favor of a background check legislation that would require private or unlicensed vendors to conduct a check before transferring a firearm.

Schumer promised on Thursday to take the bill, known as HR 8, to the Senate floor, although he did not specify the deadline.

“The legislative cemetery is over,” he told reporters. “HR 8 will be on the Senate floor and we will see everyone’s position.”

The Senate is expected to accept the two bills approved by the House individually. The background check measure received the most support from Republicans in the House.

The other measure would extend the time that federal investigators have to conduct background checks from three to 10 days. Two House Republicans voted in favor.

Each bill would need 60 votes to pass the Senate, which means that 10 Republicans would have to cross the corridor to overcome legislative obstruction.

Some Senate Democrats say they are already talking to Republicans.

“I’m talking to senators across the hall, but the ones who really make a difference in this debate are the survivors, students and family members who made this issue a movement,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Told The Hill about his plan to get 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 – that’s what my Republican colleagues must respond to,” he added.

The weakened state of the NRA is also adding optimism to gun control advocates.

The once powerful pro-gun lobby group filed for bankruptcy and announced in January that it would reinstate in Texas and leave New York. It is also facing a civil lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

Press Secretary of the White House Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden administration sending FEMA to the border amid the influx of migrant children Five things that must happen to vaccinate people The White House faces challenges to overcome the hesitation of the GOP vaccine MORE on friday said President bidenJoe BidenPompeo: Re-entering the deal with Iran would make the Middle East “less secure”. “Naturally, I will talk to leaders and members of Congress about how to move forward with arms security measures,” adding that it is a priority.

A day earlier, Psaki said that Biden is “personally committed” to dealing with armed violence when asked whether he believes the Senate can approve the two bills.

“I hope he looks for opportunities to engage and advocates why these are not political issues; these are common sense efforts to keep our children safe, to keep our country safe and, you know, to ensure that we are, you know, reducing armed violence in the country, ”she said.

Advocacy groups like Everytown, March for Our Lives, Brady, Moms Demand Action and Sandy Hook Promise say they are encouraged by Biden’s commitment to fighting gun control.

Director of the White House Public Engagement Office Cedric RichmondCedric RichmondPadilla has ‘big Chuck Taylors to fill’ in place of Harris Bottom line Biden promises action on weapons amidst resistance MORE told defenders last week that the government wants the two projects to reach Biden’s table.

“HR 8 is important to us, the Charleston gap is important to us. We are looking forward to signing it, we are looking forward to getting involved to make sure we can sign it, ”he said.

The sniper from the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, in 2015, a self-styled white supremacist who killed nine black parishioners, managed to legally buy a firearm despite a prison arrest on his record, which did not appear on his background check during the waiting period of three days.

Defenders held a virtual march on Thursday in the hope of creating momentum for legislation passed by the House in the Senate. Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphySunday shows the preview: Democrats declare victory in the stimulus COVID-19; Vaccination efforts provide hope for the summer Schumer promises swift Senate action on gun reforms in the House. Democrats close to the pressure point to prevent obstruction MORE (D-Conn.), Who of authorship the Senate’s HR 8 version moderated the event.

“Now the task is to take this project to the Senate and put it into practice. [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP goes on the attack against Biden relief bill Pentagon takes pressure to extend Capitol Guard time Fundraising fight points for Trump-GOP fissures MORE [R-Ky.] it would not bring any anti-gun legislation to the Senate in the past five years, ”said Murphy.

The Democratic-led House had already approved Charleston’s background check and bills in February 2019, but never received a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Years earlier, in 2013, the Senate adopted the bipartisan background check legislation sponsored by Sens. Joe ManchinJoe Manchin: Why Republicans failed to cancel Biden’s relief bill on Sunday shows the preview: Democrats declare victory in the COVID-19 stimulus; Vaccination efforts bring hope for summer The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Johns Hopkins University – Biden sets an optimistic tone for summer MORE (DW.Va.) and Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeySasse scolded by the Republican Party of Nebraska over the impeachment vote Republican Party Commissioner Philly on censorship: ‘I suggest that they censor lying Republican elected officials’ (R-Pa.), A few months later the 2012 shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Murphy’s home state.

But the measure was only a few votes below the 60-vote limit needed to move forward.

If the version approved by the House reaches the Senate floor, he could lose at least one Republican who had previously supported him.

Toomey’s office said last week that while he still supports the provisions of the 2013 measure, the recent approval by the Chamber the legislation is not targeted enough to win your vote.