A test bipartisan agreement to tighten federal gun laws spurred in the Senate on Tuesday after minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Gave public support in a context released by negotiators this week. McConnell’s support provided further evidence that the current round of arms law negotiations, which began after last month’s deadly shooting at a Texas elementary school, could simply have what previous attempts at a bipartisan compromise had not been sufficient. GOP support to overcome a difficulty. Ten Republicans, led by Senators John Cornyn (Tex.) And Thom Tillis (NC), signed the framework released Sunday – giving the test deal the minimum GOP support needed to cross the 60-vote threshold, assuming and the 50 members of the Democratic caucus end up supporting the legislation. Support for McConnell (Ky.) Suggests that a larger group of perhaps a dozen more Republicans are playing for legislation that would represent the most significant new federal gun restrictions since the mid-1990s. “I’m comfortable with the framework and if the legislation ends up reflecting what the framework indicates, I will be supportive,” McConnell told reporters Thursday. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a moderate who often supports bipartisan agreements but also seeks re-election this year to a historic state in favor of gun rights, also signaled trial support Tuesday. Murkowski described the framework as “quite reasonable” and said she was “encouraged” by progress on Tuesday. But like other Republicans, he said he would review the text of the bill before making a final decision. It remained unclear when the text would be completed on Tuesday, although key Senate officials were optimistic it could be done by the end of the week – next week’s Senate vote, shortly before lawmakers are due to leave Washington for on July. 4 holiday breaks. The bill will then be passed to Parliament, where President Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has said it will pass. “We want to vote on it before the break and we will do what we can,” said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Sumer (DN.Y.). Senator Chris Murphy (Conn.), Who led the Democratic debate with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Said that while the drafting process was not complete, “the heavy lifting is complete” and that the agreement frame is not in danger of unwinding. “I’m sure we can get there and get there soon,” he said. But there were signs in the Capitol on Tuesday that supporters of the deal were taking care to make sure a backlash would not take place. Cornyn went to the Senate before a party dinner to clarify a framework agreement provision that has been of concern to ardent Conservatives – a new federal program that would provide grants to allow states to enforce “red flag laws,” which allow authorities to seize weapons from individuals determined to represent a potentially violent threat. The grant program, Cornyn said, would not seek to coerce or even incentivize states that do not currently have red flag laws to adopt them. In fact, he said, the money could be used for other programs related to mental health crisis interventions that have no firearms component, while states that use the funds to enact red flag laws will be subject to “full due procedure and protection of the Declaration of Rights “. “I do not support any mandates or national mandates,” Cornyn said. Over lunch, Cornyn presented poll data from a survey of gun owners that showed widespread support for the terms of the agreement, including helping states enforce red flag laws, making a larger group of domestic violence offenders ineligible to buy and juvenile justice and mental health records in first-time gun buyer checks. The deal, released Sunday, combines these weapons restrictions with funding for mental health and school safety that could reach $ 10 billion or more. Cornyn also highlighted the limitations of non-negotiable weapons – such as raising the minimum age for arms purchases, banning large-capacity ammunition and enforcing safe storage requirements for gun owners – according to a copy of the review. by The Washington Post. A debate ensued, which largely focused on red flag laws, dinner attendees said, and several Republicans walked out of the room clearly reluctant to accept the deal – especially in an election year where the GOP backed restrictions on weapons could reduce the turnout of conservative voters. “I think we’re more interested in the red wave than in the red flags, frankly, as Republicans,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (RN.D.) as he left the dinner. Moments later, however, McConnell gave the bipartisan framework an unmistakable impetus, calling it a “step forward” that would “show the American people that we can unite, something we have done from time to time on issues such as infrastructure and postal.” reform, to make progress for the country “.
