New shootings plunge Biden, Congress into the gun control debate

President BidenJoe Biden Good luck, Dan Bongino! The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s Next Act: Massive Infrastructure Plan With Tax Hikes Conservative Group Says Polls Show Dems ‘Voting Rights Law Out Of Synchronization With US Voters’ MORE urged Congress on Tuesday to push through meaningful gun reforms after the second mass shooting in less than a week, sending Washington back into a well-known debate where lawmakers have landed in a stalemate 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 evidence it would move the needle in Congress – even as political leaders supporting arms reforms noted that the United States States the only country in the world to constantly suffer massive shooting events.

There had been no mass shootings in a year, as much of the country stayed home from work and school during the pandemic, a fact sadly noted by former President Obama.

“A once in a century pandemic cannot be the only thing slowing mass shootings in this country,” Obama, who failed to convince Congress to pursue sweeping reforms after the Newtown elementary school shooting , Conn. In 2012, it said in a statement.

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

Biden in White House comments urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and close loopholes in the background checks for firearms.

Chairman of the Judiciary of the Senate Dick DurbinDick Durbin Meet the Make the Senate Great Again Caucus Sunday Show Preview: Biden Administration Struggles With Border Rise; US Mourns Atlanta Shot Dead Hillicon Valley Victims: Senate Republicans Call for Hearing on FTC’s Obama-Era Google Decision | US net with an increasing risk of cyber-attacks, says GAO | YouTube rolls out TikTok rival MORE in the US (D-Ill.), The No. 2 Senate Democrat, called for a “moment of action” in addition to a moment of silence to address the “epidemic” of US gun violence.

Republicans, however, were muted in their comments, with the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s Next Act: Massive Infrastructure Plan With Tax Hikes Senate Republicans Torn Over Ear Tag Returns The Memo: Trump Fights To Stay Relevant MORE (R-Ky.) Democratic calls to eliminate the filibuster from the floor in comments. McConnell did not use his time to address the shootings. He later condemned the shootings and said he was open to discussion about gun reform, but acknowledged “deep-rooted philosophical differences” between Democrats and Republicans about tackling gun violence.

At a previously scheduled Senate hearing on reducing gun violence Tuesday, Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward Cruz The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s Next Act: Massive Infrastructure Plan With Tax Hikes Senate Republicans Torn Over Ear Tag Return Trump Steps Up Activities, Alleges Power Within GOP MORE (R-Texas) accused Democrats of “ridiculous theater” for proposing universal background checks and other measures.

“Every time there is shooting, we play in this ridiculous theater where this committee comes together and proposes a lot of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders,” Cruz said during the Senate committee hearing. He accused the Democrats of attempting to take arms from law-abiding citizens.

Given the wide discrepancies 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 affect Congressional Republicans in terms of gun control,” the former official said, referring to the 2019 mass shootings that took place less than a day apart.

When asked on a later trip to Columbus, Ohio if he has the political capital to take gun action, Biden replied that he hoped so and crossed his fingers.

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

Congress passed a federal ban on assault weapons in 1994 when Biden chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, but the bill was written until sundown after 10 years. Since then, lawmakers have again called for a ban on assault weapons in the wake of mass shootings, but they have not gained traction.

A 2019 house law that attracted 216 co-sponsors failed to get a vote, even though Democrats had a majority in the lower house.

Biden’s call for further reforms included a demand that the Senate “immediately” pass two bills passed by the House earlier this year and expand background checks on arms sales.

“This is and should not be a partisan issue, this is an American issue. It will save lives, American lives, and we must act, ”said Biden, noting that the House bills had received some Republican backing.

Leader of the majority of the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer Democrats Make Low-Tax States An Offer They Should Refuse Biden Must Keep Health Care Promises FEMA Pauses Flood Insurance Rate Update Following Schumer Pushback: Report MORE (DN.Y.) has pledged to take swift action against the legislation, which would strengthen background checks and close the so-called Charleston loophole by increasing the time federal investigators have to perform background checks from three days to 10 days.

Eight GOP lawmakers voted in favor of the background check legislation that would require unlicensed or private sellers to conduct a check before handing over a firearm. Two House Republicans backed the bill to close the loophole in Charleston.

Democrats also think they have a chance of taking advantage of a weakened National Rifle Association. The pro-gun advocacy 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).

Democrats face hurdles in passing a gun control measure in the 50-50 Senate, where they need at least 10 Republican votes to end the debate on legislation, provided every Democrat votes for the bills, unless a gun control measure is linked to an adopted bill by means of budget reconciliation.

Her. Joe ManchinJoe Manchin The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s Next Act: Massive Infrastructure Plan With Senate Tax Hikes Confirms Marty Walsh As Biden’s Labor Secretary Wipe White House Eyes T Spending Proposal MORE (DW.Va.) told reporters on Tuesday that he is not in favor of the house-passed legislation that expands background checks, suggesting that it should include a greater exemption for arms transfers between individuals who know each other.

‘I come from a firearms culture. And I’m a law-abiding gun owner, would do the right thing, you have to assume we will do the right thing, “Manchin said.

Manchin reiterated his support for a bill he had previously with Sen. 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.) Those background checks would extend to all commercial gun sales.

The White House indicates it will look for ways to act through executive action.

“We are considering a range of levers, including working through legislation, including executive actions to address not only gun safety measures, but also violence in communities, so that has been debated and will continue to be discussed,” the report said. White House press. secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiOn The Money: New batch of stimulus payments to hit bills Wednesday | Biden eyes T infrastructure package | Senate Confirms Walsh as Labor Secretary Wiping White House Eyes T Spending Proposal Texas Democrat Office Unveils Photos of Overcrowded Border Patrol Facility MORE told reporters aboard Air Force One after Biden’s comments.

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

The push for new weapons measures may spur calls to abolish or reform the legislative filibuster that requires 60 votes to end debate on most legislation. Biden recently said he supported the return to the “talking filibuster” in which senators must physically talk on the ground to block legislation.

“Americans have made a decision about background checks. If the filibuster is the only thing preventing a wildly popular proposal from becoming law, then it should definitely be part of the conversation about why the rules need to change, ”Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott Murphy It’s March: It’s Madness Democratic lawmaker ‘fought back tears’ on border facility visit Democrats play border crisis defense MORE (D-Conn.) Told reporters.

Alex Gangitano and Jordain Carney contributed to the reporting.