Senate negotiators are racing for an agreement on a small set of gun control proposals, with the goal of completing their work by the end of this week.
On Tuesday, members of a bipartisan senators group shuffled between party briefings, negotiations and White House conversations while under intense political pressure to reach a deal.
Negotiators have reduced their talks to a narrow set of proposals to address school safety, set standards for safe gun storage, and provide some federal support for mental healthcare programs. They also offer incentives to states to establish red flag laws to take guns away from dangerous owners. There were also discussions about possible federal background checks for young people who want to purchase guns.
The Capitol Hill hearings were closed to the public, while victims and families of gun violence gave testimony at public hearings about the devastating effects guns had on their lives.
Garnell Whitfield Jr. was the son of Ruth Whitfield and was gunned down last month at Buffalo’s grocery store. He was one of many family members to begin a two-day period of testimony and appearances on Capitol Hill. He pleaded with lawmakers to do more than just stand by while gun violence destroys lives as he spoke.
Whitfield stated that Whitfield believed the life of her mother was important to him and members of Senate Judiciary Committee. “Your actions today would show us how important it is to you,” Whitfield said.
Whitefield was speaking, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), one of the lead negotiators, traveled to the White House in order to update President Biden about their progress. Later, Murphy told reporters that while his goal was to keep Biden informed, lawmakers are in charge of the negotiations.
Murphy stated that while Murphy acknowledged that he was giving us space to negotiate the deal, he also needs the president’s approval and signature. “We don’t have an agreement. We don’t have anything to show to our colleagues or to the White House. Yet.”
Murphy stated earlier in the day that members support raising the legal age to purchase semiautomatic weapons from 21. However, he was “sober-minded” about the difficulties of reaching a bipartisan agreement.
Murphy stated, “We are trying out what we can do to this population that’s 18-21 that tends towards a mass-shooter profile, to make certain there is the ability for them to determine if there are any warning signs or red flags before they get their hands onto a weapon.”
On Tuesday, legislators gathered at the National Mall to call for gun reform and to dedicate a garden to the 45,000 victims of gun violence each year.
Actor Matthew McConaughey is a Uvalde, Texas native who was killed by a shooter two weeks ago at an elementary school. He also made an emotional appeal to Congress at the White House daily briefing about guns.
“We are now in a window that offers us a chance to make real change. McConaughey stated that this window is one where real change and real change are possible. “I am here today to apply all of my energy, reason, and passion into making this moment a reality.”
On Tuesday, Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, stated to reporters that Murphy expected to reach an agreement with Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas before the end of this week. “And I expect to give that time to him.”
“I have a lot faith in Senator Murphy, the other Democrats who negotiate. Schumer stated that Schumer didn’t believe they would offer a deal without teeth.
Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated to reporters that he hopes Murphy & Cornyn will come up with a measure that addresses mental health and school safety. However, it’s too early to speculate on how many GOP senators would support what they propose.
Biden has set a high standard for what he would like to see passed out of Congress. This includes a ban of assault weapons, a ban of high-capacity magazines and background checks. Red flag laws are also included. Biden also wants to repeal the immunity that protects gun makers from legal liability if they use their guns in violence.
The Senate is beginning to negotiate some ideas from Biden, such as incentives for states to adopt their own red-flag laws.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. said that red flag legislation grant money is meant to encourage states to adopt the legislation as well as to provide the funding and tools necessary to implement them once they have been approved. Blumenthal stated that even states with red flag laws like New York need more resources to ensure the programs are effective in getting guns out the hands of those who don’t have them.
Blumenthal stated that New York’s law was probably not being implemented as efficiently as it should have because the city didn’t invest enough in it. “So the money is not only important as an incentive, but also as an implementer.”
The lawmakers are also trying to make a deal about changes to the National Instant Background Check System (NICS). One suggestion is to include juvenile criminal records that have been sealed in the overall vetting process. A few lawmakers believe that this could provide a better picture of young gun buyers. According to Aides, adding juvenile information can address concerns about the minimum age required for purchasing weapons.
One of the Republican negotiators, Sen. Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, stated that the information was already part of background checks in South Carolina. However, he wouldn’t say if he supported adding the measure in federal legislation.
The details of funding the programs and whether Republicans will need to offset the funds with cuts to other programs are still being worked out by lawmakers.
On Wednesday morning, the House Oversight and Reform Committee will hold an hearing to “examine gun violence epidemics in the United States.” It will feature two panels of witnesses from Uvalde and Buffalo.
Zeneta Everhart is scheduled to address the legislators. She is the mother of a Buffalo shooting survivor. Kimberly and Felix Rubio, parents to Lexi Rubio aEUR”, a 10-year old girl who was killed in the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde aEUR”, and Miah Cerrillo aEUR”, a fourth-grade Robb Elementary student who survived the attack, are also on the list.
The hearing will include testimony from Eric Adams, New York City mayor, and Becky Pringle, National Education Association president.
After members of the House introduced their gun reform bill, H.R. The hearing was held after H.R. 7910 was passed by the Judiciary Committee as Biden spoke to the nation in a prime time speech calling for the passage of bills.
House Rules Committee Tuesday afternoon was also examining the Protecting Our Kids Act and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. These bills would nationalize red-flag laws.
According to a letter sent to members on Friday by House Majority Leader StenyHoyer, the full House could vote on the bills as soon as this week. These measures are unlikely to make any progress in the Senate.
