Leader of the majority of the Senate Charles Schumer
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“The Senate is going to discuss and address the epidemic of gun violence in this country,” Schumer said in a speech on the ground.
“We have a lot of work to do. I’ve already committed to bringing universal background check legislation to the floor of the Senate. Today there is a hearing in the Senate Judicial Committee under Chairman [Dick] Durbin’s leadership to explore various common sense proposals, ”he added.
The House passed legislation this month to expand background checks, and Schumer has vowed to take it to the floor in the upstairs room. But it faces a tough climb in the Senate, where it would take 60 votes to pass unless Democrats ignore the filibuster.
Despite bipartisan outrage in the wake of fatal shootings, Congress routinely has not passed legislation.
The then GOP-controlled Senate initially opened the door to address gun reforms in 2019 following shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas.
Leader then majority Mitch McConnell
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“Background checks and red flags are likely to lead the discussion,” he told a Kentucky radio station.
But the debate eventually ended after talks between senators and attorney general William Barr
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The democratically controlled senate also failed to pass the background check legislation in 2013. At the time, four Republicans voted to push the bill forward, but four Red State Democrats broke party rank to oppose it.
Schumer indicated on Tuesday that he would take a different course, even though he faces a steep climb to pass a bill.
“This Senate will be different,” he said.