President Biden told reporters Monday that “rational Republicans” could act in some way to control guns following the recent mass shooting in Uwalde, Texas.
Driving the news: “I think things have gotten so bad that everyone’s getting more rational about it,” Biden said. “At least that’s my hope.”
Background: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN on Thursday that he had met with Texas Sen. John Cornin and encouraged him to speak with Democrats to find a compromise on legislation in response to the Texas shooting.
- Biden said Monday he would welcome congressional arms control. He specifically called McConnell a “rational Republican” and that Cornin could be one, and he had “acknowledged that they could not go on like this.”
Yes, but: Biden said he has not yet spoken to Republicans about finding a compromise on gun control, “but my guess is … they’ll have to look closely.”
- “I know I have a responsibility. I can do the things I did,” he said, but noted that the constitution only gives Congress the power to change laws. “I can’t ban guns. I can’t change past checks.”
Background: Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Told ABC “This Week” on Sunday that there are “many more Republicans willing to talk” about gun control legislation than he has seen before, Axios reports Ivana Saric .
- “Every time after one of these mass shootings in Washington, talks are held and they never succeed,” Murphy said. “But this time there are more Republicans who are interested in talking about finding a way forward than I’ve seen,” after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
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