WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) – Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Thursday blocked debate on a bill representing the first congressional effort to tackle mass shootings since the assassination of 10 blacks by a white supremacist in New York and the massacre of 19 students and two by a gunman. teachers in Texas.
The 47 to 47 vote on strict party lines did not reach the 60 votes in favor needed to start the 100-member Senate debate on a bill titled the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act.
The vote effectively blocked a bill that would have allowed federal agencies to jointly monitor and report on domestic terrorism in the United States, including incidents related to white supremacy.
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Republicans said the legislation was unnecessary, as Democratic President Joe Biden already had the authority to organize his administration’s response to violent extremism.
Democrats said the bill was needed to bolster the federal government’s response to rising incidents of violent extremism. They said amendments to any bill could address possible arms restrictions.
Mass shootings in recent years have sparked a discussion in Congress about what to do with armed violence, but little action, as the two sides are deeply divided over arms restrictions.
Americans have little confidence in the ability of Congress to solve the problem, with a Reuters / Ipsos poll on Tuesday showing that only 35% believe lawmakers will act. Read more
The House of Representatives passed a bill on domestic terrorism last week after a white supremacist confessed to killing all 10 blacks in a live shootout at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14th.
On Tuesday, a gunman stormed a school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 9- and 10-year-olds and two teachers.
Senate Democrats and some Republicans have discussed the possibility of bipartisan legislation to address mass shootings, including proposals to expand background checks for gun buyers and to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.
About 79% of Americans, including 78% of Republicans, are more likely to vote for a candidate in the November congressional election than support the passage of such red flag laws, according to the Reuters / Ipsos poll.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at least five Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy, have contacted Republicans about possible measures related to gun and school security.
Murphy, a leading advocate of gun restrictions, told a news conference that talks with Republicans were expected on Thursday and will continue until next week. But the odds are slim at best that the Senate will enact any bill to restrict weapons.
“None of us have any hope that this will be easy,” Schumer said in the Senate Chamber, accusing Republicans of being “vice control” of the U.S. gun lobby. But he added: “We have to give it a short time to prove it.”
Schumer’s Republican counterpart, minority leader Mitch McConnell, told reporters that any proposal capable of passing the Senate should be limited to addressing the “facts” of the Texas massacre. He gave no further details, but Republicans are widely opposed to new gun restrictions that would violate the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
Other Republicans expressed potential interest in red-flag legislation that would encourage states to deny firearms to anyone who is mentally unstable or dangerous, possibly using unspent COVID-19 funding to pay for the initiative.
With the Senate split from 100 50-50 seats, gun legislation would need 10 Republican votes to reach the 60-vote threshold in the House to pass a majority of bills.
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Report by David Morgan; Additional report by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller
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