Senators quickly split by partisan standards on Tuesday as Democrats called for action after two mass shootings last week and Republicans denounced their calls to highlight the political divide that has fueled a decade-long cycle of inaction against gun violence.
At a Senate Justice Committee hearing scheduled ahead of the Atlanta and Boulder shootings that killed at least 18 people, Democrats argued that the recent slaughter left Congress with no choice but to issue stricter guidelines. They lamented the grim pattern of fear and outrage, followed by partisanship and paralysis that had become the norm after mass shootings.
“In addition to a moment of silence, I would like to invite a moment of action,” said Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and chairman of the committee. “A moment of real care. A moment when we don’t allow others to do what we have to do. Prayer leaders have an important place here, but we are Senate leaders. What do we do?”
Even before the recent shootings, the Democrats had begun to push for stricter arms control measures, which face great opportunities in the 50:50 Senate. House Democrats passed two bills this month aimed at expanding and strengthening background checks on gun buyers by applying them to all gun buyers and extending the time it takes for the FBI to review those flagged by the national emergency inspection system.
But the two laws passed in the House were deemed too expansive by most Republicans – only eight Republicans in the House voted to push universal background scrutiny legislation. The bills would almost certainly not get the 60 votes required to clear a filibuster in the Senate.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the panel, said in his opening address he was confident that Democrats and Republicans could work together to make “bipartisan, sensible” progress on gun control. But he said that the legislation passed by the House did not fit this bill as the measures would be passed almost entirely on a party-political basis.
“That’s not a good sign that all voices and perspectives are being considered,” said Grassley.
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, went further, slapping Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, who said Republicans had offered “fig leaves” rather than actionable, meaningful gun control solutions.
“Every time there is shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee comes together and proposes a number of laws that do nothing against these murders,” said Cruz. “But what they suggest – not only does it not reduce crime, it makes it worse.”
The renewed focus on gun control is expected to return attention to Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, who speaks out against the downsizing of the legislative filibuster but has long – unsuccessfully – endeavored to propose a bipartisan Say goodbye to gun control. Following the 2012 massacre of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Mr. Manchin signed a contract with Senator Pat Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, to fill legal loopholes that would allow people to buy firearms at gun shows or on the Internet , allow background checks to be avoided, but proponents could not muster enough support to pass them.
Mr Manchin told CQ Roll Call earlier this month that he was speaking out against the General Background Review Bill passed by the House, citing its provision citing checks for individual sales, but said he was in favor of a legislative revival from Manchin-Toomey interested.
