Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle face enormous pressure to take action following the horrific shooting, but members of both sides acknowledge the tough battle to find common ground given the highly polarized political climate around arms legislation and the GOP’s widespread opposition to stricter opposition. weapons control.
It is significant, however, that McConnell has decided to intervene and give the green light to a bipartisan effort on a possible legislative response to the shooting. But it remains to be seen what, if any, the talks will be about as the countless mass shootings in recent years have failed to break the partisan stalemate on the issue of arms policy in Congress.
McConnell would not specifically say what the outlines of this legislation should be, but would indicate that he wants Cornyn to be the one to negotiate.
“I met with Senator Cornyn this morning. As you know, he went home yesterday to see family members and begin the search for the facts of this horrific massacre, and I encouraged him to speak with Senator Murphy and “I hope that we can find a bipartisan solution,” McConnell told CNN.
Legislation to respond to mass shootings and against armed violence has long been one of the most divisive and insoluble political problems facing lawmakers.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that Democrats are willing to give time and space to efforts to reach some sort of bipartisan compromise on gun legislation, though he noted that the odds are long. He also made it clear that these efforts will not have unlimited time to play.
“We have to try everything. We don’t have to leave a stone unturned,” Schumer said Thursday before.
He added, however, “this is not an invitation to negotiate indefinitely. Make no mistake, if these negotiations do not bear fruit in a short period of time, the Senate will vote on arms security legislation.”
Senate Democrats took steps Tuesday night to put two background check bills passed by the House on the legislative calendar so they can be voted on. It is unclear, however, when the Senate could vote on the measures and not expect them to overcome a GOP obstruction.