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For Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), It’s hard to express too much hope that this time, after still another mass shooting in the country, things will be different when it comes to passing Congressional legislation to tackle gun violence.
But he left room for some optimism on Sunday, saying he was in talks with more than his Republican counterparts than ever before.
Murphy was in office in 2012 when a gunman killed 20 students and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state. And he was in Congress on Tuesday when a gunman opened fire at Rob Elementary School in Uwalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers, the deadliest shooting at a school since Sandy Hook.
In response to the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uwalde, Texas, state and federal lawmakers on May 29 discussed the future of gun laws. (Video: The Washington Post)
There have been many discussions in Washington in the years since Sandy Hook, but no significant federal legislation has been passed to tighten gun laws, Murphy said Sunday.
“But this time there are more Republicans who are interested in talking about finding a way forward than I’ve ever seen since Sandy Hook,” Murphy told ABC’s This Week.
“And while I’m ultimately broken-hearted, I’m at the table in a more significant way right now with Republicans and Democrats than ever – certainly with far more Republicans who want to speak right now than are willing to speak after Sandy Hook, “he said.
Other Democratic MPs also reiterated hopes that some gun control legislation could be drafted, although most Republican members of Congress have shown little indication that they are ready to support any tighter gun control.
A day after the shooting, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.) asked his Republican counterparts to consider a bill that would strengthen past checks on those who want to buy guns.
“To my Republican colleagues, imagine if this happened to you. Imagine if this is your child or your grandchild. How would you feel? ”Sumer said Wednesday.
Sumer called on only 10 Republicans to stand up to history and shout “Stop”! He then acknowledged a “reality” that most would not. The Senate took a break without voting on gun legislation.
But on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Replaced Sen. John Cornin (R-Tex.) To negotiate with Democrats over gun legislation. These bipartisan talks – which continued throughout the holiday weekend, even though the Senate was adjourned – were “encouraging”, Murphy said.
“These are serious negotiations and we will continue to meet early next week to try to find a common ground,” Murphy said, adding that a ban on assault weapons and universal inspections may not be realistic. although he wholeheartedly supports them.
MURPHY: “I don’t want to exaggerate my optimism.” I’ve been Charlie Brown enough times to know that football has been pulled out from under me every time. Maybe this time is different. And I will work devilishly to try to reach this agreement. “Pic.twitter.com/2eRTTlKJTS
– Frank Thorpe V (@frankthorp) May 26, 2022
“But what we are talking about is not irrelevant,” he added. “We are talking about laws with a red flag. We are talking about strengthening and expanding the background checking system, if not universal checks. We are talking about safe storage. “
He once again softened his optimism, saying simply breaking the deadlock could be the most important step the bipartisan group could take.
“It would just show that progress is possible and that the skies are not falling for Republicans if they support some of these health measures,” Murphy said.
Yet most Republicans have shown a reluctance to back down from allowing any restrictions on gun ownership.
In Fox News Sunday, Mo-Brooks (R-Ala.), Who is running for the Senate, said he would not support any changes to the gun laws that are currently in place, saying they were needed “Inalienable rights of the Second Amendment” in the event that citizens have to “take back our government”.
McConnell’s decades-long effort to block gun control
NRA-backed Chris Jacobs (RN.Y.) broke up with the Republican Party last week and said he would now support a ban on assault weapons, store capacity restrictions, raising the age of purchase of weapons from 18 to 21 and other restrictions. for weapons. The recent shootings in Buffalo and Uwalde have forced him to re-evaluate his position on weapons, Jacobs told Buffalo News.
Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Whose NRA rating rose from “A” to “F” after he called for a ban on failed actions following a mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival, blew up the NRA on Sunday as “Fraud for fraud.”
Kinzinger said raising the age of purchase of weapons to 21 is “pointless” and said he was open to regulations or even a ban on AR-15. In Buffalo on Saturday, Vice President Harris called for a ban on weapons of attack.
“I think if there’s a way, maybe when it comes to AR, you know, if there’s a special license, you have to have one,” Kinzinger said. “I am definitely ready to join this conversation. And maybe that ultimately involves not selling them anymore. That’s good, because for me I’m focused on saving lives now. “
Presiding over the Senate Judicial Committee hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) Has called for a vote on legislation to review the past after the Senate returns from its Remembrance Day break.
“We have to vote,” he said. “That’s why we were chosen.”
On Sunday, CNN’s State of the Union Durbin said he was not sure the Uwalde tragedy would move Republicans enough to show “political courage in a very difficult situation.”
“I can’t say for sure, but I can tell you that I feel different among my colleagues after Uwalde,” Durbin said. “Of course, 10 years ago it was Sandy Hook, Parkland and so many other cases.
He added that the stories coming out of Uwalde could make lawmakers “imagine their own children or grandchildren as captives of this madman as he kills them one by one in this school, and realize that it’s time to do something “.
Mike Debonis and Stephen Zeitchik contributed to this report.
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