[ad_1]
WASHINGTON-
In a possible breakthrough to the first major new US gun law in decades, a bipartisan group of senators on Sunday announced agreement on a framework for a firearm safety bill with enough Republican support to move forward in the tightly divided Senate.
The plan, lauded by US President Joe Biden, includes support for state “red flag” laws that protect guns from potentially dangerous individuals, stricter criminal background checks for firearm buyers under the age of 21, and a crackdown on “straight purchases” by individuals who buy firearms for others failed a background check.
The framework, created after last month’s massacres at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, is far less ambitious than proposals by Biden and other Democrats to ban semi-automatic assault rifles and high-capacity magazines capacity, or at least raising the minimum purchase age from 18 to 21.
It was announced a day after tens of thousands gathered in Washington and across the United States to demand lawmakers pass legislation to curb gun violence.
While the deal represents a significant breakthrough, it does not ensure legislation will be passed, as lawmakers still have to craft legislative language that can secure enough votes to reach both the Senate and House of Representatives, each closely controlled by the controlled by Democrats.
For decades, the Republican opposition has been instrumental in defeating Democrat-backed gun control proposals in Congress that date back to the passage of an assault weapons ban in 1994 that expired a decade later.
But Sunday’s announcement still marks the furthest progress in talks on a gun action in Congress since 2013, following a Connecticut school massacre when gun control legislation failed in the Senate.
“Our plan saves lives while protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans,” the negotiating group, led by Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy and Texas Republican John Cornyn, said in a statement. “We look forward to garnering broad, bipartisan support and turning our sensible proposal into law.”
The group approving the framework included 10 Republicans, nine Democrats, and one independent who sides with the Democrats.
The United States has the highest death rate from guns of any wealthy nation in the world. But it’s a country where many value gun rights, and the Second Amendment protects the right to “own and bear arms.”
FILIBUSTER THRESHOLD
If 10 Republicans signal support, that would be enough to get past the Senate’s “filibuster” rule, which requires 60 of the 100 senators to agree to move most legislation forward. Republicans opposed to the plan are expected to clear procedural hurdles to block it.
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell stayed close to adopting the framework.
“I am pleased that Senators Cornyn and Murphy continue to make progress in their discussions,” McConnell said in a statement, adding that he hopes the talks will make progress on “key issues like mental health and school safety” in a way that will “which respects the Second Amendment.”
Biden welcomed Sunday’s agreement.
“It doesn’t do everything I think is needed, but it reflects important steps in the right direction and would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades.” Biden said in a statement. “With bipartisan support, there are no excuses for delay and no reason why it shouldn’t move quickly through the Senate and House of Representatives.”
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week expressed confidence in Senate negotiators despite her desire for tighter gun controls.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would quickly introduce a bill once the legislative details were worked out.
The deal, cobbled together after weeks of intense negotiations, would provide federal funding to encourage states to pass “red flag” laws that keep guns out of the hands of people judged by courts to pose a significant threat to themselves or others will.
Congress would allocate more funding to expand mental health programs, including those conducted in schools, and crack down on those who evade gun licensing requirements or illegally buy guns on behalf of others — transactions known as “straight-buying.” .
The plan would also require new state checks on people under the age of 21 trying to buy guns so that youth mental health records can be checked, along with checks on state and local law enforcement agencies.
“We are grateful to the bipartisan group of senators who worked on this compromise. Thank you for finding common ground that saves lives,” said David Hogg, a survivor of a 2018 Florida high school shooting and co-founder of the group that organized the rallies on Saturday.
Hogg added that more was needed, including requiring background checks on every gun purchase nationwide, and said the bill “should be the beginning, not the end, of Congress’ work.”
(Reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington and Brendan O’Brien in Chicago; Editing by Will Dunham and Scott Malone)
[ad_2]
Read Also :