The Senate Judiciary President says he “can’t keep up” with the number of mass shootings

The Senate Judiciary President says he “can’t keep up” with the number of mass shootings

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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 Democrat in the upper house, said on Tuesday that he “cannot keep up” with the level of armed violence in the United States after two mass shootings last week.

Durbin during his opening statement at a committee hearing on armed violence, which was scheduled before last week’s shooting at massage parlors in Atlanta, said he had to change his statement and questions to witnesses again after the deadly attack the night before. Monday at a Colorado grocery store.

“I can’t keep up,” he said. “I cannot change and correct my opening statement to keep up. It just keeps coming for us. ”

“We are insensitive to numbers,” he continued. “Unless we are personally touched, it is just another statistic. This has to stop. ”

Durbin then called the two recent mass shootings, which together left a total of 18 dead, “devastating”.

“These victims and their loved ones are worthy of our thoughts and prayers, but more is needed,” he argued.

Durbin explained that, while the country faces “a coronavirus pandemic, we have another epidemic in America called weapons”.

“I could ask for a moment of silence for the mass shooting in Boulder last night and, after that is done, I could ask for a moment of silence for the Atlanta shooting six days ago, and after a minute, I could to ask for a moment of silence for the 29 mass shootings that took place this month in the United States, ”he explained.

“But in addition to a moment of silence, I would like to ask for a moment of action, a moment of true affection, a moment when we don’t allow others to do what we need to do,” said Durbin. “Prayer leaders have an important place in this, but we are leaders in the Senate.”

“What are we doing? What are we doing, in addition to reflecting and praying?” He asked. “This is a good starting point, it shouldn’t be our end point.”

Durbin then led other Democrats on the committee calling for common sense gun reform, including more rigorous background checks needed to buy weapons.

Meanwhile, Republicans on the committee, including senior members Chuck GrassleyChuck Grassley’s Democrats look at the Georgia model ahead of the 2022 Senate races Moderate Democrats warn leaders against Iowa race intrusion The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden: Back to the future of immigration, Afghanistan, Iran MORE (Iowa), argued that an increase in crimes was linked to calls to “disarm the police” and that armed violence could be contained by increased law enforcement training and presence in all communities, rather than limits on firearms. fire.

The hearing takes place on the same day, the majority leader in the Senate 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 to take action combat armed violence, adding that lawmakers “have a lot of work to do”.

“The Senate is going to debate and address the epidemic of armed violence in this country,” he said during a plenary address. “I have already pledged to bring universal background verification legislation to the Senate floor.”

The House passed legislation this month to expand gun background checks, and Schumer said it would bring it to the floor in the upper house, although it faces an obstacle with the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate, unless Democrats manage to do it. reject the obstruction.

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