Stricter background checks for guns essay

Donald Trump took aim Wednesday at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for helping to advance a bipartisan gun safety bill, even though the legislation includes measures the former president has backed in the past. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, was one of 14 GOP senators who voted Tuesday night to open debate on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. In a post on his Truth Social page , Trump sounded alarm bells on the proposed legislation while citing McConnell and another Republican senator who helped lead the bipartisan talks behind the bill . "The deal on 'Gun Control' currently being structured and pushed in the Senate by Radical Left Democrats , with the help of Mitch McConnell, RINO Senator John Cornyn of Texas, and others, will go down in history as the first step in the movement to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY. Republicans , be careful what you wish for!!!" Trump wrote. The term "RINO" stands for Republican in Name Only. The Bipartisan Safer Communities … [Read more...] about Trump attacks McConnell for advancing gun measures he previously supported

President Barack Obama urged a reluctant Congress to ban both military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and require background checks for all gun sales in an emotion-laden plea to curb gun violence in America, though he acknowledged he’s in for an uphill battle. In a sharp pushback against any new gun regulations, the National Rifle Association posted a Web video that labels Mr. Obama an “elitist hypocrite” for allowing his daughters to be protected by armed Secret Service agents while not embracing armed guards for schools. “Are the President’s kids more important than yours,” a male narrator asks in the video. “Then why is he sceptical of putting armed security in schools, when his kids are protected by armed guards in their school?” The President’s sweeping, $500 million plan, coming one month after the school massacre in Connecticut, marks the most comprehensive effort to tighten gun laws in nearly two decades. But his proposals, most of which are … [Read more...] about Obama plan draws sharp attack from gun lobby

After each of the repeated mass shootings that now provide a tragic backbeat to American life, the same doomed dance of legislation quickly begins. As the outraged demands for action are inevitably derailed in Congress, disappointed gun-control advocates, and perplexed ordinary citizens , point their fingers at the influence of the National Rifle Association or the intransigent opposition of congressional Republicans. Those are both legitimate factors, but the stalemate over gun-control legislation since Bill Clinton’s first presidential term ultimately rests on a much deeper problem: the growing crisis of majority rule in American politics. Polls are clear that while Americans don’t believe gun control would solve all of the problems associated with gun violence, a commanding majority supports the central priorities of gun-control advocates, including universal background checks and an assault-weapons ban. Yet despite this overwhelming consensus, it’s highly unlikely that the … [Read more...] about The Real Reason America Doesn’t Have Gun Control

Senate bargainers reached agreement Tuesday on a bipartisan gun violence bill , potentially teeing up final passage by week's end on an incremental but landmark package that would stand as Congress’ response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation. Lawmakers released the 80-page bill nine days after agreeing to a framework for the plan and 29 years after Congress last enacted major firearms curbs. It cleared an initial procedural hurdle by 64-34, with 14 Republicans joining all 48 Democrats and two allied independents in voting yes. That strongly supported a prediction by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of approval later this week. Passage by the Democratic-led House could follow quickly. ALSO READ: Gun laws in countries outside the U.S. Though Republicans blocked tougher restrictions sought by Democrats, the accord marks an election-year breakthrough on an issue that pits the GOP's staunch gun-owning and rural voters against … [Read more...] about U.S. Senators release gun violence bill after bipartisan compromise

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) referenced the Senate gun control bill Tuesday, noting that he, nine other Republicans, and the ten Democrats working on the legislation together found “space for compromise” on gun control. The Texas Tribune quoted Cornyn: We’ve talked, we’ve debated, we’ve disagreed and finally we’ve reached an agreement among the four of us, but obviously this is not something that is going to become law or fail to become law because of a small group of senators. The truth is we had a larger group of 20 senators, 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats, come together and sign on to an agreed set of principles, and I believe that as the senators see the text that supports those principles, they will see we’ve tried our best to be true to what those agreed principles should be. He stressed that he and the bipartisan group of Senators found “space for compromise” on gun control. There is no room for compromise with our God-given rights @JohnCornyn … [Read more...] about John Cornyn: We Found ‘Space for Compromise’ on Gun Control

Breitbart News reported on June 6 that 250 Republican donors signed a letter in support of Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) work with Democrats to secure bipartisan gun control. On June 22 the Dallas Morning News noted the number of signatories had grown to 600. The letter says, in part, “We vote for Republican Senators. We believe in the Second Amendment. Like many we are struggling for good answers to our current problem of gun violence in America.” The signatories voice support for red flag laws, expanded background checks, and raising the age for legal gun purchases to 21. “Most law enforcement experts believe these measures would make a difference,” the letter says. “And recent polls of fellow conservatives suggest that there is strong support for such gun-safety measures.” The language of Cornyn’s gun control deal was revealed on Tuesday, and Breitbart News pointed out that the bill expands background checks for some gun buyers, uses taxpayer money to incentivize … [Read more...] about 600 GOP Donors Supporting John Cornyn’s Gun Control Push

US senators advanced a bipartisan bill late Thursday addressing the epidemic of gun violence convulsing the country, approving a narrow package of new firearms restrictions and billions of dollars in mental health and school security funding. The reforms — which are almost certain to be rubber-stamped by the House of Representatives on Friday — fall short of the demands of gun safety advocates and President Joe Biden, but have been hailed as a life-saving breakthrough after almost 30 years of inaction by Congress. “This bipartisan legislation will help protect Americans,” Biden said in a statement shortly after the Senate vote. “Kids in schools and communities will be safer because of it.” The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was backed by all 50 Democratic senators and 15 Republicans, includes enhanced background checks for buyers under the age of 21, $11 billion in funding for mental health and $2 billion for school safety programs. It also provides funding to … [Read more...] about ‘Historic Day’: For The First Time In Decades, US Senate Approves Bipartisan Gun Safety Bill

Fifteen Republican senators caved Thursday night and voted “yes” on the gun control package Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) worked with Democrats to create. Cornyn’s gun control bill expands background checks for some gun buyers, uses taxpayer money to incentivize states to enact red flag laws, and broadens the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) prohibited purchasers list by using domestic violence statutes to cover dating relationships. It also heightens punishments for gun crimes that had nothing to do with Uvalde, Buffalo, Parkland, Las Vegas, Orlando, or Sandy Hook. CBS News reported that the legislation passed Thursday night by a vote of 65-33. Here are the 15 Republican Senators who caved and voted for the new gun controls: Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Sen. … [Read more...] about The 15 GOP Senators Who Caved and Voted ‘Yes’ on Gun Control

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) praised the gun controls passed by the Senate on Thursday, describing them as “common-sense guardrails” that increase safety. CBS News quoted McConnell as he simultaneously praised the Supreme Court ruling in NYSRPA v. Bruen and the Senate’s passage of Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) gun control measure Thursday night. McConnell said, “I am proud of these two complementary victories that will make our country freer and safer at the same time. Law-abiding Americans will go to bed tonight with significantly stronger Second Amendment rights than they had this morning, while new commonsense guardrails around convicted criminals and mental illness are now on their way to becoming law.” Cornyn’s gun control package expands background checks for some gun buyers, uses taxpayer money to incentivize states to enact red flag laws, and broadens the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) prohibited purchasers list by using … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell Praises Senate-Passed Gun Controls

AUSTIN, Texas — The sister of a 9-year-old girl killed in the Uvalde school rampage tearfully pleaded on Thursday with Texas lawmakers to pass gun safety legislation and questioned why so many security measures failed. “I’m here begging for you guys to do something,” said Jazmin Cazares, whose young sister Jacklyn was one of 19 children killed in the 80 minutes the gunman spent inside Robb Elementary School on May 24 before police stormed the classroom and killed him. Two teachers also died in the massacre. “People who were supposed to keep her safe at school didn’t,” the 17-year-old Cazares said through sniffles. “They failed.” Officials offer first detailed timeline of Uvalde shooting police response: 'An abject failure' June 21, 2022 03:39 Her testimony came just as the U.S. Supreme Court announced a decision allowing a major expansion of gun rights , saying that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public. … [Read more...] about Sister of Uvalde victim pleads with lawmakers to pass gun safety measures