New shootings plunge Biden and Congress into gun control debate

President bidenJoe BidenGood luck, Dan Bongino! The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s next act: massive infrastructure plan with tax increases on Tuesday, he asked Congress to enact significant gun reforms after the second mass shooting in less than a week, plunging Washington back into a family debate in which lawmakers have come to a halt in recent years.

Eight people in the Atlanta area and 10 people in Boulder, Colorado, were killed in the most recent shootings, but there was little sign that this would move the needle in Congress – even with political leaders who support gun reforms noted that the United States are the only country in the world that continually suffers from mass shooting events.

There was no mass shootout in a year, as much of the country stayed home without working and studying during the pandemic, a fact sadly noted by former President Obama.

“A pandemic that occurs once in a century cannot be the only thing that slows down mass shootings in this country,” Obama, who failed to convince Congress to move forward with significant reforms after the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, said in a statement.

“We shouldn’t have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. It is time for leaders everywhere to hear the American people when they say it is enough – because that is a normal thing that we can no longer afford, ”he said.

Biden, in comments from the White House, asked Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and close the gaps in background checks on firearms.

President of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick DurbinDick DurbinMeet the Make the Senate Great Again convention on Sunday shows the preview: The Biden government fights against the widening of the border; US Regrets Shooting Victims in Atlanta Hillicon Valley: Senate Republicans Request Hearing on Obama-era Google FTC Decision | American network at increasing risk of cyber attack, says GAO | YouTube launches rival TikTok in the USA MORE (D-Ill.), The second Senate Democrat, called for a “moment of action” in addition to a moment of silence to face the “epidemic” of armed violence in the United States.

Republicans were silenced in their comments, however, with the minority leader in the Senate Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Morning report from The Hill – Biden’s next act: Massive infrastructure plan with Senate Republican tax hikes torn apart by money back The memo: Trump struggles to stay relevant MORE (R-Ky.) Exploding Democratic appeals to remove obstruction in plenary comments. McConnell did not use his time to talk about the shootings. He later condemned the shootings and said he was open to discussing gun reform, but acknowledged “profound philosophical differences” between Democrats and Republicans on how to deal with armed violence.

During a previously scheduled Senate hearing on the reduction of armed violence on Tuesday, the senator Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Morning report from The Hill – Biden’s next act: Massive infrastructure plan with Senate Republican tax increases torn apart by Trump money backs intensifies activities and claims power in the GOP MORE (R-Texas) accused Democrats of “ridiculous theater” by proposing universal background checks and other measures.

“Whenever there is a shooting, we play in this ridiculous theater where this committee meets and proposes a lot of laws that would do nothing to prevent these murders,” Cruz said at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He accused Democrats of an attempt to take arms from law-abiding citizens.

Given the marked differences on display, a senior Obama administration official expressed skepticism that the recent shootings would influence the debate.

“After El Paso and Dayton, it is very clear that nothing will influence Republicans in Congress about gun control,” said the former official, referring to the 2019 mass shootings that took place less than a day apart. .

When asked during a subsequent trip to Columbus, Ohio, whether he has the political capital to promote arms measures, Biden replied that he hoped so and crossed his fingers.

“I don’t know. I haven’t counted yet,” replied Biden.

Congress passed a federal ban on assault weapons in 1994, when Biden was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but the law was drafted to expire after 10 years. Since then, lawmakers have renewed calls for a ban on assault weapons after mass shootings, but have not gained momentum.

A 2019 House bill that attracted 216 co-sponsors failed to get a vote in plenary, although Democrats had a majority in the lower house.

Biden’s call for further reforms included a requirement that the Senate “immediately approve” two bills passed by the House earlier this year that would broaden background checks on arms sales.

“This is not and should not be a party issue, it is an American issue. This will save lives, American lives, and we have to act, ”said Biden, noting that the House’s projects received some Republican support.

Senate majority leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerDemocrats make low-tax states an offer they should refuse Biden must keep his health promises. FEMA stops updating the flood insurance rate after Schumer’s resistance: report MORE (DN.Y.) promised swift action on the legislation, which would strengthen background checks and close the so-called Charleston breach, extending the time that federal investigators have to conduct background checks from three to 10 days.

Eight Republican Party lawmakers voted in favor of a background check legislation that would require unlicensed or private sellers to conduct a check before transferring a firearm. Two House Republicans supported the bill to close the breach in Charleston.

Democrats also think they have a chance to take advantage of a weakened National Rifle Association. The defense weapons 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).

Democrats face obstacles to approve any arms control measure in the 50-50 Senate, where they need at least 10 Republican votes to end the debate on legislation, provided that all Democrats vote in favor of the bills, unless a measure control system is attached to an approved project through budget reconciliation.

Sen. Joe ManchinJoe Manchin’s Morning Report The Hill – Biden’s Next Act: Massive Tax-Raised Infrastructure Plan Senate Confirms Marty Walsh as Biden’s Secretary of Labor at the White House with his eyes sweeping up the T MORE spending proposal (DW.Va.) told reporters on Tuesday that he does not support legislation passed by the House that extends background checks, suggesting that it should include a greater exemption for arms transfers between individuals who know each other.

“I come from a culture of arms. And I am a gun owner who complies with the law, would do the right thing, you have to assume that we will do the right thing, ”said Manchin.

Manchin reiterated his support for a bill he had previously presented with Sen. 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’ Toomey censored by various Republican Party committees in the Pennsylvania county because of the impeachment vote MORE (R-Pa.) That would expand background checks for all commercial arms sales.

The White House is signaling that it will look for ways to act through executive actions.

“We are considering a series of levers, including working through legislation, including executive actions to address, of course, not only gun security measures, but also violence in communities, so it has been under discussion and will continue to be discussed, ”White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiOn The Money: New batch of stimulus payments for settled accounts Wednesday | Biden looks at T infrastructure package | Senate confirms Walsh as Labor Secretary, White House, eyes scanning the Texas Democratic office’s spending proposal reveals photos of the crowded Border Patrol facility told reporters aboard Air Force One after Biden’s remarks.

Psaki said White House officials feel they need to work on “multiple channels” at the same time.

Pressure for new weapons measures could reinvigorate calls to end or reform the legislative obstruction that requires 60 votes to end the debate over most legislation. Biden said recently that he supported a return to “talking obstruction”, in which senators need to be physically on the floor talking to block the legislation.

“Americans decided through background checks. If obstruction is the only thing that prevents an extremely popular proposal from becoming law, then it must certainly be part of the conversation about why the rules need to change, ”Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyIn March: It’s Mad Democratic Legislator ‘Fought Tears’ During Visit to Border Facility Democrats Defend Border Crisis MORE (D-Conn.) Told reporters.

Alex Gangitano and Jordain Carney contributed to the report.