As pressure for new gun laws continues to mount after a series of deadly mass shootings, Republican senators face rejection from both supporters and opponents of gun control legislation.
The big picture: the Senate is considering the most important arms security measure it has seen in decades, after a bipartisan group reached a framework that included improved background checks for under-21s, funding for health mental health and school security and state grants for “reds.” flag laws “.
Leading the news: Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) answered questions to “Fox News Sunday” about his refusal to pass or oppose the bipartisan bill. Lee is generally a staunch opponent of gun control laws.
- Host Shannon Bream quoted a recent Fox News poll as finding “a lot of momentum, at least among the public sphere” to pass gun legislation, and asked Lee, “Are you out of step with your constituents?”
- According to the survey, a large majority of Americans admit to background checks on weapons (88%) and ammunition (80%), raising the legal age to buy assault weapons (82%) and red flag (81%).
- Lee responded that voters “are not asked questions about a specific language within the legislative text.”
- He added: “It is the job of the legislature to look after the interests and rights of the law-abiding citizens they represent.”
The other side: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has been involved in efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement, was booed when he took to the stage at the Texas Republican convention this weekend.
- Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and his staff were also physically assaulted at the convention. After the Uvalde shooting, Crenshaw said he would support expanding background checks to include the youth history of 18- to 21-year-olds looking to buy guns, according to Newsweek.