Gun control groups focus all efforts on the Senate

Arms control groups are now concentrating all their lobbying efforts on the Senate after the House passed two major bills last week that received some GOP support.

Leader of the majority of the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer Cuomo biographer: ‘Predatory behavior’ has been ‘evident for years’ Lawmakers call for action on first anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death Schumer, Gillibrand calls on Cuomo to step down MORE (DN.Y.) promises swift action on the legislation – to strengthen background checks and close the so-called Charleston loophole – but proponents face a known tough battle to try to win enough Republicans.

Still, proponents are optimistic that a democratically-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 for gun violence prevention, but we have the majority, of which we know there are eight Republicans,” said Brian Lemek, executive director of Brady PAC.

Eight GOP lawmakers last week voted in favor of background check legislation that would require unlicensed or private sellers to conduct a check before handing over a firearm.

Schumer promised on Thursday to bring the bill, known as HR 8, to the Senate, although he did not specify a timing.

“The legislative graveyard is over,” he told reporters. “HR 8 will be on the Senate floor, and we’ll see where everyone stands.”

The Senate is expected to consider the two bills passed by parliament separately. The background check measure received the most support from Republicans in the House of Representatives.

The other measure would increase the time federal investigators have to perform background checks from three days to 10 days. Two House Republicans voted for it.

Each bill would take 60 votes to pass the Senate, meaning 10 Republicans would have to cross the aisle to overcome a legislative filibuster.

Some Senate Democrats say they are already in talks with Republicans.

“I’m talking to senators across the aisle, but the real difference makers in this debate are the survivors, students and family members who have made this issue a movement,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Told The Hill about his plan to gain Republican support.

“The most powerful advocates for change are the people who can share personal stories about how a background check could have saved someone they love – that’s what my Republican colleagues need to respond to,” he added.

The NRA’s weakened state also adds optimism to gun control advocates.

The once-powerful pro-firearms lobby group filed for bankruptcy and announced in January that it will relocate in Texas and leave New York. It is also facing a civil suit from New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

White House Press Secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden’s administration sends FEMA to the border amid the influx of migrant children Five Things That Must Be Done To Get People Vaccinated The White House Faces The Challenge Of Overcoming Hesitation Over GOP Vaccines MORE said on Friday President BidenJoe BidenPompeo: Reentry with Iran would make the Middle East ‘less secure’ DNC prepares for interim push Biden struggles to unravel web of Trump immigration rules MORE Will of course talk to leaders and members of Congress about how to proceed with weapons security measures, adding that it 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 expect he will look for opportunities to get involved and advocate why these are not political issues; these are healthy efforts to keep our children safe, our country safe and, you know, make sure that we, you know, reduce gun violence in the country, ”she said.

Advocacy 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.

White House Director of the Office of Public Engagement Cedric RichmondCedric Richmond Padilla has ‘big Chuck Taylors to fill in’ to replace Harris Bottom line Biden pledges action on weapons amid resistance MORE lawyers told last week that the government wants the two bills to reach Biden’s desk.

“HR 8 is important to us, the loophole in the Charleston is important to us. We look forward to signing it, we look forward to participating to make sure we can sign it, ”he said.

The shooter at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, in 2015, a self-proclaimed white supremacist who murdered nine black parishioners, was able to legally purchase a firearm despite an arrest on his file, which did not show up in his background check during the waiting period of three days.

Lawyers held a virtual march on Thursday hoping to create momentum for the House-passed legislation in the Senate. Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott Murphy Sunday Show Preview: Democrats Declare Victory Over COVID-19 Stimulus; Vaccination Efforts Offer Hope for Summer Schumer Promises Swift Senate Action on House Democrats Arms Reforms Near Pressure Point on Nixing Filibuster MORE (D-Conn.), Who written the Senate version of HR 8, moderated the event.

Now the job is to take this bill to the Senate and finish it. [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP Goes On Attack Against Biden Relief Bill Pentagon Takes Heat For Extending Guard’s Time As Capitol Fundraising Spits At Trump-GOP Rifts MORE [R-Ky.] would not submit anti-firearms legislation to the Senate for the past five years, ”said Murphy.

The Democrat-run house previously passed Charleston’s February 2019 background check and bills, but they never got a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Years earlier, in 2013, the Senate passed a two-pronged background check law sponsored by Sens. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinWhy Republicans Couldn’t Kill Biden’s Relief Bill Sunday Show Preview: Democrats Declare Victory Over COVID-19 Stimulus; Vaccination Efforts Offer Hope for Summer The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Johns Hopkins University – Biden sets an optimistic tone for the summer MORE (DW.Va.) and Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeySasse reprimanded by the Republican Party of Nebraska for impeaching the Philly GOP commissioner’s censure vote: “ I would suggest they have Republican elected officials who lie ” disapproval Toomey censored by several Pennsylvania GOP committees about the vote on accusations MORE (R-Pa.), Just months after that the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Murphy’s home state.

But the measure fell just a few votes below the 60-vote threshold it took to proceed.

If the house-adopted version makes it to the Senate floor, it could lose at least one Republican who previously supported.

Toomey’s office said last week that while he supports the provisions in the 2013 measure, the recent House-succeeded legislation is not focused enough to win his vote.