This week, Senate Democrats are taking action to prohibit the use of bump stocks. This comes after the Supreme Court nullified a federal rule implemented during the Trump administration that banned bump stocks. These devices enable semi-automatic firearms to discharge hundreds of rounds in a minute, thereby posing a severe threat to public safety.
On Tuesday, Democrats will make a final push to pass legislation that would prohibit the use of bump stocks. The Republicans are expected to block this legislation through unanimous consent.
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Democrats are eager to take action on firearms legislation, but they are skeptical that Republicans will be willing to do the same during election season. Despite some Republicans having previously shown support for such efforts and the Trump administration having enacted a ban on bump stocks, Democrats believe their efforts may be met with resistance from the opposing party.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) challenged Republicans who previously expressed support for banning bump stocks but were waiting for the Trump administration to take action. He questioned if they are still willing to support the ban now that the administration has not taken any significant steps towards it.
Murphy expressed his belief that the task ahead may pose some challenges, but he hasn’t yet counted the votes. He remarked that the situation should be much simpler than it appears and is seemingly a straightforward matter.
On Monday, Republicans criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for politicizing the issue and expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of outreach.
According to Senator Thom Tillis, who has been actively involved in several bipartisan efforts, including those related to gun laws, if the President is genuinely interested in achieving a bipartisan outcome, he should gather individuals who have previously worked on such bills and seek their advice. Instead of using the House’s unwillingness as an excuse, the President should focus on finding a way to produce a mutually agreeable solution.
“He’s opting for a unanimous consent request and attributing the opposition to all Republicans, despite the fact that he’s negotiating with someone who showed a willingness to support the Safer Communities Act.”
Tillis expressed his disappointment, labeling the whole ordeal as a political exercise and a disgrace. He went on to accuse the Democratic leader of tainting the matter by “poisoning the well.”
In 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) implemented a ban on bump stocks during the tenure of former President Trump. The ban was a result of the devastating mass shooting in Las Vegas, which claimed the lives of 60 people and injured hundreds more.
After the court struck down the rule, members were left wondering about the way forward. Justice Samuel Alito’s concurring opinion suggested that congressional action could be a possible solution, but the senators acknowledged that the process is far from simple.
When asked if there was any room for members to work towards a resolution, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) replied, “Practically speaking, probably not.” However, he stressed the importance of doing so to draw a contrast, hold Republicans accountable, and give their side a chance to showcase their stance.
He added that the current political situation has left us vulnerable to machine guns, and unfortunately, it’s the criminals and mass shooters who will benefit from it.
In the past, the possession of a bump stock was considered a criminal offense by the ATF’s rule, which was carried forward under the Biden administration. This was due to their classification as machine guns. However, the Supreme Court deemed the law too extensive and thus, overturned it.
On Monday, Schumer introduced his party’s response by announcing on the floor that the unanimous consent request will include Sen. Martin Heinrich’s (D-N.M.) bill.
According to Schumer, it should only take a few minutes to pass legislation that would ban bump stocks. He believes that most Americans are in favor of this measure. Although gun safety is a topic that often leads to heated debates in Congress, Schumer believes that preventing another tragedy like the one in Las Vegas is a no-brainer and something that everyone should be able to agree on.
In addition to this, the chamber’s efforts following the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, two years ago were recognized by the New York Democrat. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was passed as a result, stands as the most significant piece of firearm reform in almost thirty years.
Schumer challenged the Republicans to join the Democrats in passing gun safety measures once again, stating that they are prepared to do so as early as tomorrow.
Upon receiving the proposal, Republicans had varying responses. Some members of the GOP expressed openness towards potential legislation, as evidenced by Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who spearheaded discussions on the 2022 law.
In their ongoing efforts to champion various social causes, the Democrats have recently shifted their focus towards guns and reproductive rights. Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, has announced his plans to introduce a bill that will codify the abortion protections established by the Roe v. Wade decision, which were overturned two years ago. Additionally, the Senate has held a series of symbolic votes on topics such as contraception and in vitro fertilization, which have been labelled as “show votes” by Republicans.
There are those who support Trump who firmly believe that this action falls within that category. They assert that Schumer’s primary objective is to aid Democrats in the upcoming elections.
According to Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who is reportedly being considered as Trump’s running mate, the current focus on fake problems instead of real problems by Chuck Schumer is a major distraction. Vance views this as a significant issue in the third week of Schumer’s continued focus on the wrong problems.
